A WEYMOUTH couple who assaulted two men in the street have been spared prison.

Jordan Lewis, aged 23, of Littlemoor Road, and Avonia Hovard, aged 19, of Turnstone Close, appeared at Dorchester Crown Court for sentencing.

Both were jointly charged with one count of common assault and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

It relates to an incident in the early hours of January 1 this year.

The couple were in Park Street when they came into contact with two men.

Jonathan Underhill, prosecuting, suggested one of the men made a comment about Hovard.

He said it led to a situation where Hovard landed ‘two blows’ against the men using the shoes she was carrying.

It moved into the centre of the road where there was a further blow from Hovard before Lewis landed a ‘single punch’ against one of the men.

Both men suffered minor injuries.

Tim Shorter, mitigating on behalf of Lewis, said his client made full admissions to police.

He said: “When he’s asked at the end of the interview how he feels about it, he says ‘disgusted’.

“He feels that he has let himself down very badly and it is fair to say on every occasion when discussing this matter experienced what I would respectfully submit is a proper degree of remorse.”

Robert Grey, mitigating on behalf of Hovard, said his client very much regrets her involvement.

He said: “It wasn’t planned. She wasn’t the instigator. There were words of provocation to which her boyfriend responded to in a way which has been submitted to you by his counsel.

“Her initial involvement was to try and separate people. She pushes away her boyfriend. She then becomes involved.

“She does very much regret what’s happened and she feels real remorse.”

Both Mr Shorter and Mr Grey said their clients had positive futures ahead of them and urged Judge Peter Johnson to steer away from an immediate custodial sentence.

Judge Johnson said the custody threshold had been breached but he was prepared to give a suspended sentence.

Lewis was sentenced to four months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, for the charge of assault occasioning abh. He was sentenced to two months imprisonment for common assault, to run concurrently if the suspended sentence is activated. He is also required to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.

Hovard was sentenced to four months detention, suspended for 12 months, for the charge of assault occasioning abh. She was sentenced to two months detention for the charge of common assault, to run concurrently if the suspended sentence is activated.

She is required to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and will be the subject of a six-month supervision requirement.

Both Lewis and Hovard are required to pay £200 compensation and £250 costs.