Bride rescues boy on her wedding day

Jan 21 2009 by Neil Atkinson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A JUDGE has heard how a bride came to the aid of a 15-year-old boy after her wedding disco ended in violence outside a Brighouse restaurant.

Prosecutor Caroline Wigin told Bradford Crown Court yesterday that teenager Josh Myers had come to the assistance of a female relative who was being subjected to obscenities from 22-year-old Dale Fascioni.

The court heard that Josh and his father Aldridge Myers had been attending a family wedding at the Casa del Lago on Elland Road, Brighouse, back in October, 2007, when the incident flared up in the car park.

Miss Wigin said Josh Myers told Fascioni to shut up and then got in a taxi, but the defendant then opened the cab door and punched the teenager in the face.

Judge Roger Scott was told that after the youngster got out of the taxi Fascioni tried to kick the boy when he was on the ground, but female relatives and the bride threw themselves over his body to prevent him.

During the incident Aldridge Myers tried to restrain Fascioni, but he was also punched and his head hit a nearby wall causing him to fall to the ground unconscious.

Miss Wigin said Fascioni, now of Crossbank Road, Batley, but previously of Shirley Grove, Cleckheaton, kicked Mr Myers senior once in the head as if he was taking a penalty in football.

As a result of the attacks Josh Myers suffered a fractured cheekbone and damage to his teeth, while his father had a broken nose.

Miss Wigin said the youngster, who played rugby league for Queensbury and football for Eccleshill United, was told he could not pay contact sport for two years as a result of his injuries.

Fascioni, who had no previous convictions, admitted unlawfully wounding Josh Myers and a further charge of assaulting his father.

In a letter handed to Judge Scott Fascioni described his actions as ''a stupid and immature mistake'' for which he could not apologise enough.

His barrister Giles Bridge urged the judge to consider suspending any prison sentence, but Judge Scott said Fascioni would have to pay for his stupid mistake.

“You initiated all this by being truly obnoxious to this young girl and this young boy stuck up for her and got punched for his sins,” Judge Scott told Fascioni.

The judge said Mr Myers had been kicked while protecting his son and the idea that the defendant should not go to custody for such conduct was an anathema to him.

Fascioni was jailed for a total of 10 months, but Judge Scott conceded that it was a sentence which other people might see as very lenient.