Woman admits GBH against Portsmouth man left fighting for his life

Alicia Savage pleaded guilty to GBH at Portsmouth Crown Court yesterday after Barney Butwell, 26, suffered a ‘serious’ head injury at a party.

The 21-year-old, of Clarendon Street, Landport, was arrested over the incident in Timpson Road, Fratton, in the early hours of April 2 after Barney was injured in a fall down stairs.

Detectives launched an attempted murder probe but Savage, who showed no emotion in the dock as she entered her plea, was charged with GBH.

During the brief court case yesterday prosecutor Gemma White said: ‘The injuries in this case were grave.’

Barney was left fighting for his life and spent six weeks in an induced coma.

Speaking after the case, Barney’s father Barry, 56, said: ‘He was dead in my eyes when I first went to the hospital.

‘He’s pulled through – he’s the miracle boy, that’s what they call him.’

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Read the full interview with Barry Butwell here

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Barney was admitted to the intensive neurological unit at Southampton General Hospital after the incident before being moved to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham in June.

He is still undergoing physiotherapy and his family fear it may be many years before he is fit enough to work.

Surgeons had to drain fluid from Barney’s brain twice, and he still faces the possibility of medics needing to operate to install a shunt.

Barney, of Milton, left QA Hospital in time for his birthday in August. He now has a girlfriend and is hoping to move on with his life as best he can, his dad said.

In court, judge Ian Pearson told Savage: ‘I will bail you to the ninth of December but you mustn’t assume just because you’re getting bail for the preparation of reports and sentence that a non-custodial sentence applies.

‘All options will be considered: that does include custody.

‘The actual injuries here are significant in context of that matter.’

The maximum sentence is five years. Savage will be sentenced on December 9.