Jail term for 'golf rage' beating

Harold Stafford worked as a psychiatric nurse for 30 years

A golfer who hit another player on the head with a golf club in Bedfordshire has been jailed for nine months.

Luton Crown Court heard 54-year-old Harold Stafford assaulted Barry Barnes after accusing him of playing his ball.

Stafford, of Luton, was found guilty of actual bodily harm over the attack last September at Stockwood Park golf club.

The court heard Mr Barnes suffered two black eyes and had to take a week off work. Claudette Elliott, prosecuting, described the assault as "golf rage".

Ms Elliott said: "The defendant was there with two of his friends and there was a misunderstanding about a ball that had gone astray.

"He felt that Mr Barnes had played his ball and he hit Mr Barnes with a golf club, causing it to break."

'Appalling violence'

The court heard that Mr Barnes also suffered chest and back injuries in the attack on 19 September.

In a statement to the court, Mr Barnes said: "I'm very shocked.

"I could not believe he was so cowardly to attack me when my back was turned."

The court heard that Stafford, of Leagrave Road, had worked as a psychiatric nurse for more than 30 years.

Judge Richard Foster said: "You are a man who has served his community well as a psychiatric nurse but, on this occasion, you showed the most appalling violence and anger and I regret to say that I can think of no other sentence but custody.

"If this is how you respond to minor provocation, I dread to think how you respond to provocation in your role as a psychiatric nurse, but that is for others to decide."

During his trial, Stafford claimed he acted in self-defence after Mr Barnes shouted a racist comment at him.

Defence barrister Brereton Horne said what happened was a "moment of madness and a temporary lapse of judgement".

He added: "His life is shattered. He does regret the situation that transpired and wishes it had never happened."