Man spared jail term so son can get school place

A man who wielded a saw in a drunken brawl outside a pub escaped a jail term yesterday after the judge agreed that imprisonment would harm his son's chances of gaining a place at his preferred school.

Patrick Flood, 35, admitted unlawful wounding after he slashed the arm of Paul McCrindle, cutting his armto the bone last May. He was given 180 hours community service and fined £350 after Judge Leo Charles of Snaresbrook Crown Court, east London, agreed a prison term would result in his son being turned down by his local school.

The court heard that Flood, of Crouch End, north London, became involved in a fight outside a pub in Camden Town during a seven-hour pub crawl. During the fracas three men pelted Flood and his car with slices of pizza. Flood then went to his car for a wood saw and used it to attack Mr McCrindle.

Flood, a father of two, said he was acting in self-defence, believing one of his assailants was holding a knife.Although Flood had no previous convictions for violence, Judge Charles said he "used more force than was necessary" and his actions were "childish".