Downham Market man admits inflicting grievous bodily harm

A Downham man who caused another man to have a bleed on the brain must wait until next month to learn his fate.

Lynn magistrates have ordered an all options pre-sentence report on Marley Savage including a possible jail term.

Savage, 21, of Parsley Way, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent in Dereham on May 10 this year, when he appeared before the court on Thursday.

Asif Akram prosecuting said the incident happened at Dereham football ground following a match between Dereham and Watlington.

He said police were called to reports of a man being assaulted and unconscious.

The victim was seen by police after he was discharged from the hospital where he had spent 72 hours waiting to see if he needed any neurological treatment after suffering a bleed on the brain.

He had bruising to his nose and both eye sockets. He was able to provide officers with Savage’s details and Savage was interviewed, but he gave ‘no comment’.

However, a review of his devices by the police found messages from Savage about the incident. One of them said: “He started on me”. He also admitted hitting him in the face once but denied hitting him in the back of the head and said: “I am not going to let anyone start on me.”

Charlotte Winchester, mitigating, suggested magistrates might want an all-options pre-sentence report and they agreed.

The case was adjourned to November 21 and Savage was granted conditional bail. Conditions include a ban on him visiting football clubs including Dereham, Watlington, Wisbech, and Lynn.