AN ATTACKER who carried out a violent assault on a man in Wantage has admitted the offence.
Joe Delaney, of Merrifield, Wantage, appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday facing one count of having a bladed article and one of assault by beating.
The 31-year old pleaded guilty to the assault but denied having a blade during the incident.
After the pleas had been entered prosecutor Jonathan Stone, on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service, said there was 'no realistic prospect of conviction' for the knife charge.
As a result he said that the pleas were accepted by the CPS and Delaney's defence barrister then asked for the matter to be sent back to the magistrates' court for sentencing.
Delaney carried out the battery at an address in Grove Street, Wantage, on June 15 this year.
The court heard that the allegation of having a knife during the assault would be unlikely to be proved by prosecutors given the evidence and that one witness had said that Delaney was not carrying anything in the attack.
Presiding Judge Nigel Daley agreed to adjourn the matter for reports and sent the case to the lower court on a date not before September 16, with the exact date to be confirmed.
Delaney was released on bail.
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