A man ended up in hospital after he was attacked at his home.

Dominic Cox was attacked by a man before a schoolgirl started hitting him on the head with a mug.

And a court heard the attack only ended when the mug broke.

Mr Cox later received hospital treatment for a cut to his head.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard there had been a history of trouble between Mr Cox and Christopher Worthington.

At one point, police had become involved and on March 15, Mr Cox saw Worthington outside the post office in Clacton town centre.

There was a discussion about the earlier incident involving the police and Worthington told Mr Cox he would see him later, Gerard Pounder, prosecuting, said.

Mr Cox was at home in Branston Road, Clacton, at about 11pm when Worthington and three others came to his flat and Worthington hit Mr Cox in the face.

When he fell back on to a chair, a teenage girl started hitting him with a mug. He was hit about six times before the mug broke and the attack stopped, Mr Pounder said.

Worthington, 21, of Wellesley Road, Clacton, took some property, including a Walkman, belonging to Mr Cox before the group left, the court heard.

Worthington admitted charges of grievous bodily harm and burglary and was jailed for a total of 18 months but will first have to serve three months remaining on an earlier jail sentence.

The schoolgirl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted a charge of grievous bodily harm and was given an eight-month detention and training order.

Christopher Paxton, mitigating for Worthington, said he had drink and drugs problems but was taking steps to change his life.

Clare Ashcroft, for the teenager, said she took part in the attack as she wanted to be accepted by the others who were older than her.

Published Friday August 20, 2004

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