Jade Aston was ‘letting her hair down’ in Gossip after having a baby before she launched the assault
Jade Aston fractured a man’s eyeball after punching him in Hanley(Image: Facebook)
A young mum on a night out split a man’s eyeball after punching him three times in an horrific Hanley street attack. Jade Aston left her victim with permanent vision loss after launching the vicious assault.
North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard the then 19-year-old partied at Gossip, in Hope Street, with her then-partner to ‘let her hair down’ four weeks after the birth of her child. But she became enraged after a fellow reveller placed his hands around her waist on November 24, 2024.
Prosecutor Lee Stone told the court: “The complainant in this matter met the defendant and her boyfriend at around 3am. They had not met before. The victim was dancing with the defendant and other people. He put his hands around her waist but saw this made her uncomfortable, so he quickly took them off.
“The defendant told her boyfriend about this and the pair became aggressive. They were removed from the venue, while the victim remained inside for another hour. The defendant remained outside. When the victim exited the premises, she attacked him, landing three punches.”
The court heard Aston’s victim suffered a ‘full-thickness laceration to his eyelid and a globe fracture on his left eye’, thanks to a ring she was wearing at the time. He suffered permanent vision loss as a result.
A victim impact shared with the court read: “I was punched multiple times and permanently lost sight in my left eye. I had to undergo surgery to try and restore my vision. I now suffer headaches and my eye occasionally drifts lazily, which makes me feel self conscious. Now I am afraid of further losing my vision.
“I have depth perception problems, which means I can struggle to pick things up or cross the road safely. I was a trainee electrician, but I had to focus through my good eye while working, leaving me with frequent headaches and pressure in my head.
“The incident left me shocked and feeling vulnerable. It left me fearful of suffering more random violence in the future. I used to enjoy going out and playing football. This attack took a part of me away that I will never get back.”
Aston, now aged 20, of Fairfax Street, Birches Head, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm.
Simon Dykes, mitigating, said Aston ‘saw red’ after being touched due to childhood trauma. He added that she had recently been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.
Mr Dykes told the court: “This is an extremely unfortunate incident. She delivered three punches to the defendant because he touched her inappropriately. Her ring caught his eye, leading to the globe fracture. On any other day, the injuries would be much less severe.
“Ms Aston and her partner visited Hanley on this occasion to let their hair down for the first time after she gave birth to her four-week-old child. She has always been cautious around male company due to childhood trauma. This male was not known to her. The fact of the matter is that men should not touch women without consent, no matter what.
“I am not saying the victim sexually assaulted Ms Aston. But you cannot touch someone in a nightclub without asking. You do not know what someone is dealing with or what they have been through. He did apologise afterwards. But, due to her history, things escalated. The biggest regret of her life is not walking away. She was waiting for her friends when she saw the victim exit the venue.
“She did not mean to inflict the injuries of this scale. She is deeply remorseful. She hasn’t been out drinking or socialising since the incident and has left her former partner. This is so she doesn’t find herself in a situation like this again. I think you are extremely unlikely to see her standing before this court again. She is mortified.”
Aston was handed an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. She was also ordered to pay £500 compensation to the victim, paid via £20 monthly deductions from her benefits, and to complete 20 rehabilitation days.
The magistrates told her: “We do believe this assault passes the custody threshold. However, we are of the view that this sentence can be suspended. We believe you have shown true remorse and have demonstrated a good chance of rehabilitation.”
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