A BRITON was fined the maximum $10,000 on Tuesday for grievously hurting a US Marine who had provoked him.
Jonathan Graham Thomson Irving, 24, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of punching Mr Clayton Sharrard, 21, on his face under grave and sudden provocation at Orchard Towers on July 4 last year. The victim suffered multiple fractures as a result.
The court heard that a dispute broke out between the two men near an ATM machine at Orchard Towers at about 1.15am that day. Irving started to laugh at Sharrard who warned him not to mess with him. Sharrard then became aggressive and started to use profanity.
Shortly after leaving the place, the victim swore at Irving from across the road. Irving continued to laugh at the victim who then crossed the road to confront Irving. Feeling provoked and fearful of being attacked, Irving punched the victim in the face. The victim lost his balance, fell down the stairs and hit the pavement.
Pleading for leniency, Defence counsel Christopher de Souza told District Judge Lee Poh Choo that his client lost his job as a mechanical systems designer for oil rigs as a result of the incident.
Irving could have been jailed for up to six years for the offence.