Man jailed for dumbbell assault has sentence reduced

Fri, 27 Jul 2012

A man who was convicted of a serious assault has had his prison sentence reduced on appeal.

Jonathon Callister was found guilty of shattering another man's cheek bone with a dumbbell and jailed for seven years.

29 year old Callister was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent in April.

The court heard the defendant had met the victim on a night out in Ramsey and after drinking together, they had gone back to Callister's home.

The victim is then thought to have made a remark about Callister's girlfriend which caused an argument.

The man was struck around the side of the face with a dumbbell, breaking his cheek bone in three places.

He's now left with a permanent metal plate in his face.

An appeal was was lodged by the defence who believed the sentence was too harsh.

The appeal Deemsters have reviewed the relevant facts of the case, mitigating factors and the sentcencing guildlines used by the trial Deemster.

They determined the seven year term was 'manifestly excessive' and that the appropriate sentence is five and a half years.