A CHANGE in personal circumstances saved a man from prison at Huntingdon Magistrates Court last week. Daniel Wooding, 22, formerly of Hill Rise, St Ives, admitted causing grievous bodily harm by punching Marco Gray, also of St Ives, in the Wheatfields are

A CHANGE in personal circumstances saved a man from prison at Huntingdon Magistrates Court last week.

Daniel Wooding, 22, formerly of Hill Rise, St Ives, admitted causing grievous bodily harm by punching Marco Gray, also of St Ives, in the Wheatfields area of St Ives on June 4.

On Thursday, prosecutor Tracey Bellingham told the court Mr Gray had suffered a fractured cheekbone and injuries to his nose after being punched in the face by Wooding.

The incident followed a confrontation between the pair after Mr Gray's car window was smashed by a friend of Wooding's.

As well as the charge of GBH, Wooding also pleaded guilty to a charge of breaching a community order for the second time.

Elaine Havord, mitigating, said Wooding had acted in self-defence after Mr Gray confronted him and that he had been "in the wrong place at the wrong time".

Ms Havord explained that Wooding was now living in Thetford with his girlfriend and her family who have taken him under their wing following some difficult home circumstances.

Sentencing, Presiding Magistrate Celia Chignell told Wooding: "We believe that the offences warrant a prison sentence because of the seriousness of the offence and the injuries involved.

"However, the sentence will be suspended because we are giving you a chance. You have a different situation, a new environment and you are young enough to put it all behind you.

"If you are back in front of us again, there is only one decision - you are going to prison."

Wooding was handed a six-month suspended jail sentence, a two-year supervision order and placed on a behaviour modification programme.

He was ordered to pay his victim £250 in compensation.