A FOREST of Dean man has avoided jail for kicking a table that hit a woman and penetrated her leg down to the bone.

At Gloucester Crown Court on Friday (September 9) prosecutor Ieuan Callaghan explained that Linus Butrimovicius, 36, of Buchanan Avenue, Coleford had been close friends with the woman for some time but on March 19 things went wrong.

He said: “Whilst Butrimovicius was drunk at his home address in Coleford he had beaten a woman with a wooden batten and kicked a wooden table at her, which penetrated her leg, exposing the bone.

“She immediately then fled the address in fear and later called the police.

“However the police didn’t catch up with the woman until she went to the minor injuries unit of a local hospital a few days later.

“Following this, Butrimovicius was subsequently arrested and interviewed.

“He had no response to the wooden batten incident.”

Lloyd Jenkins defending explained that Butrimovicius struggles with alcohol, a habit that didn’t start until he reached his 30s.

“Butrimovicius doesn’t recall the incident, but he doesn’t dispute it either.

“He binge drinks and this incident occurred during one of these sessions.

“He has previously been convicted for being drunk and disorderly in 2019.

“He has legally been in the UK since 2015 and had been fully employed until the start of the pandemic lockdown in 2020.

“Butrimovicius’ relationship with this woman was toxic.

“He had effectively lost his way in life and started drinking.

“Until he was remanded in custody he has never spent any time in prison.

“He has already served the equivalent of a two-month sentence.

“I feel he is a suitable candidate for a suspended sentence, so that his various issues can be dealt within the community.”

Butrimovicius pleaded guilty to an assault causing actual bodily harm on the woman on March 19 and accepted he had failed to adhere to the terms of his bail conditions on August 8, 2022.

Judge Ian Lawrie KC told Butrimovicius: “What you did was unforgivable.

“However, I am not sending you into prison today, even though this offence crosses the custody threshold.

“You used violence against a woman, which is unforgivable.

“You were drunk and have no memory of what you did.

“Being drunk and acting like this is when you are at your most dangerous.

“You caused your victim significant injury.

“However I believe you are capable of learning lessons and therefore suitable for rehabilitation.”

The judge jailed Butrimovicius for 58 weeks but suspended the sentence for two years.

The judge also ordered that he attend a three-month alcohol treatment course and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and undertake 150 hours of unpaid work along with attending court for monthly judicial reviews.