A HEAVY drug user who assaulted a friend in front of her teenage son, has avoided jail.

Christian Condron, of Brownlow Way, had spent the afternoon and evening with his friend of five years, Louise Birtles on June 14 this year, Bolton Crown Court heard.

The 44-year-old had also given her a jacket, which she believed was to keep.

Condron left Ms Birtles’ home at around 10.30pm and made his way to a local pub.

Shortly after, Ms Birtles also left the house along with her 17-year-old son Callum and withdrew £80 from a cash machine on Chorley Old Road.

While they were out, Ms Birtles spotted Condron but didn’t wish to speak to him so pretended not to see him.

However Condron saw Ms Birtles and asked her for some money.

When she refused, an argument ensued between the pair and eventually Condron demanded his jacket back and punched her in the side of the face.

Ms Birtles said she felt dizzy after the punch and her son said it was at this point that Condron threw a beer can at her, causing a deep cut underneath her eye.

Prosecuting, Andrew Mackintosh said that the complainant was angry that somebody could do this to her and that she was worried she would be scarred for life.

He listed Condron’s previous convictions for drug offences, burglaries and assaults – although he admitted that he had not committed an assault since 1992.

Mr Mackintosh suggested that it was a Category One offence, citing the level of injury and the fact a weapon was used.

Defence barrister Kevin Liston said that Condron was not habitually violent and that the attack was out of character, and not pre-meditated.

He conceded that the 44-year-old had consumed Class A drugs on the day of the incident and that his actions were a “disproportionate outcome to the argument between the pair.”

Mr Liston added that Condron had already served the equivalent of a 35 week custodial sentence, so asked that any sentence be suspended.

Condron told the probation service that he was a heavy drug user, taking between one to three bags of heroin and £20 worth of crack cocaine per day.

He denied asking Ms Birtles for money and said she was the aggressor – that she punched him first and he acted in self-defence.

Passing sentence, Judge Graeme Smith said: “This assault was serious because you used a weapon in the can you were holding.

“Unfortunately the way it was used resulted in a nasty gash.

“However I’m just about persuaded it is appropriate to suspend this sentence.”

Condron was sentenced to 13 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

He was also given a three month drug rehabilitation order and ordered to complete a 20 day rehabilitation activity requirement.

A restraining order was also issued, forbidding him from making contact with Ms Birtles or her son for three years.

Judge Smith added: “The ball is in your court and if you don’t comply, you will be back in custody.”