Councillor is fined for butting colleague

A LABOUR councillor who head-butted and kneed a colleague in the corridors of Middlesbrough town hall was fined pounds 450 yesterday.

John Garvey, a former chairman of the police committee, was found guilty of assaulting Michael Carr, 33, after a two-day trial at Teesside Crown Court.

The court heard that Garvey, 40, had taken offence to a report made about him by Mr Carr. When they met in the corridor Garvey 'exploded', head-butting Carr and kneeing him in the groin.

The two men tussled on the ground before the fight was stopped, as Mr Carr screamed: 'Help, I'm being attacked.' Mr Carr needed hospital treatment for his injuries, the prosecution said.

Garvey, of Sandwell Avenue, Middlesbrough, Cleveland, denied the attack, in October 1991, but was found guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm.

He was fined pounds 300 for the assault, with pounds 100 costs and was ordered to pay pounds 120 compensation for Mr Carr's damaged jacket. He admitted possessing cannabis for which he was fined pounds 150.

A prosecution request for personal compensation for Mr Carr was refused by the assistant recorder Mr Julian Hallam. A private prosecution claiming assault by Mr Carr on Garvey was dropped by the counsel for the defence.