Garth Ward jailed for fracturing woman's jaw in brutal assault

Garth David Kevin Ward

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Garth David Kevin Ward (born 10/08/1993) from Bowness Road, Middleton, has been jailed for subjecting a mother and daughter to a vicious assault in a Manchester bar.

Ward left a 52-year-old woman with a fractured cheek and other facial injuries following a violent and unprovoked attack at Lammars Bar on Hilton Street, Manchester in the early hours of Sunday 29 September 2013.

Ward was in a group of eight men who entered the bar in Manchester's Northern Quarter, where the victims were already enjoying a night out.

At around 1.50am a scuffle between the group of men and the women took place, resulting in a drink being thrown into the face of a 19-year-old woman.

Her mother, the 52-year-old victim, went to protect her daughter and dry her face, telling the men to "back off".

It was then that Ward launched into his shocking attack, punching the mother full force in the face, fracturing her cheek, while knocking over the daughter with the same blow.

He then continued his assault, punching the mother once more and kicking her to the body before he is dragged away by one of his group of friends.

The mother's white dress was left covered in her own blood as a result of Ward's attack and as he was escorted away by door staff he ended his sickening attack by spitting in the face of an unknown woman by the exit of the bar.

He admitted a Section 47 Assault at an earlier hearing and was today, Friday 25 July 2014, sentenced to 12 months in prison

As part of the investigation police are continuing to appeal for information as to the whereabouts of Garth Ward's father, called Garth Ward, who is wanted in connection with the incident and is believed to be abroad.

In a personal statement, the woman, who has suffered lasting nerve damage and has had to give up work because of this, said: "I've not been to Manchester city centre since the attack and feel nervous in crowded places.

"The attack has changed my personality and lifestyle completely.

"I am angry that he (Ward) would hit a female of my petite size with so much force. I feel lucky that I wasn't killed."

Detective Constable Alan Cronshaw said: "Garth Ward (junior), using as much force as he could muster, punched a petite 52 year old woman, causing devastating injuries to her face.

"Her dress was drenched in her own blood and she still suffers from recurring pain as a direct result of this attack.

"This victim feels lucky to be alive. As she outlined in her victim personal statement, people can lose their life as a result of just one punch.

"Ward's cowardly behaviour caused public outrage at the time when a press appeal was launched in a bid to identify the person responsible from CCTV.

"We received numerous calls identifying Ward (junior) which we were able to swiftly act upon. This shows that the community who know him are not prepared to put up with his thuggish behaviour."