Lifestyle boss broke woman’s leg in two places

The director of a luxury ‘lifestyle management’ company who broke a woman’s leg in two places when he pushed her over outside a pub was spared jail today. (Fri)

James Stephenson, 38, shoved May Woods, a freelance journalist, outside The Defector’s Weld pub in Shepherd’s Bush, leaving her with ‘potentially life changing injuries’ and ‘constant pain.’

The victim had gone to the pub on 5 December 2021 to watch her boyfriend’s DJ set.

Prosecutor Amelia Katz told Southwark Crown Court that Ms Woods was sharing a cigarette with the defendant’s girlfriend, Jo Hunt outside the pub when the incident happened.

‘The defendant came out the pub and pushed the victim, causing her to fall and break her leg and later stated he had tripped.’

Ms Woods lay on the floor covered with drinker’s coats to keep her warm as she waited two hours for an ambulance that never came before being taken to hospital in an Uber.

‘This is a grave injury,’ Ms Katz said.

‘She required surgery including an open reduction of an internal rotation, where the bones are repositioned… and remained in hospital for three weeks.’

Stephenson, supported through the trial by his girlfriend and family, runs VIP lifestyle management firm Tatlocks, offering invitation-only membership to a ‘truly discreet service for discerning individuals all over the world.’

He denied one count of grievous bodily harm but was convicted by a jury on 9 November 2022 after a three day trial.

In a victim impact statement Ms Woods said: ‘What happened to me impacted my partner and me every day.

‘Still more than a year later I feel it’s turned me into another person and [has left] me with potentially life changing injuries

‘I’m in constant pain and unable to do anything independently.

‘A year on, I can’t bend my knee, I walk with a limp, and I can’t jog…I have shooting pain and constant pins and needles caused by nerve damage.

‘It feels like my leg is on fire all the time.

‘Essentially my partner still has to look after me full-time.

‘I don’t feel like a normal person anymore, there isn’t an aspect of my life or my partners that hasn’t changed.

‘I’ve never been somebody who has had a hard time with their mental health, but I feel I can’t actually relax since this has happened to me.

‘I used to be a really social person so it’s hard to deal with this …. I’m always close to tears.’

Medical reports were read in court this morning that stated it is ‘more than 50 per cent likely that Ms Woods’s nerves won’t heal completely’ and she will have ‘lifelong scarring’ and it is ‘likely her injuries will be permanent.’

Ms Woods said in a Twitter post shortly after the incident: ‘Last Saturday night I was violently assaulted by a random man outside a pub.

‘I’ve been in hospital since, have had an emergency op and likely need two more…There were no ambulances at all, so I laid on the freezing ground for hours in the rain with people’s coats on me.’

On 9 November, the day of Mr Stephenson’s conviction, Ms Woods wrote: GUILTY. His name is James Veitch Thomas Stephenson. He founded and runs Tatlocks, a ‘lifestyle management company’.

‘I’ve spent the past week in court being called a liar by an expensive lawyer. It’s been 11 months since this [tweet] & my leg hasn’t healed. But we did it.’

Defending Stephenson, Ms Sallie Bennett-Jenkins said: ‘This is a matter best described as highly unusual.

‘We are dealing with a man, on all the evidence your honour heard, a man of good character.

‘Your honour knows a little more than is usual for James Stephenson for having heard evidence from his partner and receiving evidence in writing from his mother, sister, and variety of his friends.

‘This is a man who has heavy personal responsibilities in life that he adopts and caries out with love and great care.

‘We suggest that when the court looks at this matter it should be conscious of the fact that on any view the defendant’s behaviour was an isolated incident of some seconds.

‘And the consequences of course have been serious but one much concentrated on what the actual offending behaviour is.

‘The 9 April 2022 [medical] document that contemplates, at least, that there was a capacity of recovery giving rehab and physiotherapy, has had no update.

‘In relation to the matter associated with the orthopaedic sides of things, he is of course a practicing GP, there has been no other update at all, so we do suggest the court has to exercise a degree of caution and care when acting on documents that are considerably out of date.

‘It is only right that the court should be aware that there is material that indicates Ms Woods has been able to attend large scale events including a festival of 15,000 people last year, so I must urge there to be a degree of balance.’

Following the incident Ms Woods’ boyfriend assaulted Stephenson by punching him in the face.

‘There is a question mark on whether the cheekbone was fractured,’ said Ms Bennett-Jenkins.

‘This was a single action, an offending wholly out of character, of the mild-mannered dedicated son and partner. There can be no doubt that he has expressed remorse at all stages.

‘This is a case which the court can be satisfied hold a realistic prospect of rehabilitation or the fact Mr Stephenson has never found himself in the court before.’

Both parties were present at Southwark Crown Court this morning (Fri) Ms Woods, wearing a black jumper and green coat, was accompanied by her boyfriend as she wept intermittently throughout the hearing.

Mr Stephenson, wearing a grey suit, white shirt, and blue tie, remained expressionless.

Passing her sentence Judge Jo Matson told Stephenson: ‘On 5th December 2021 you had been out for dinner with friends and partner Jo Hunt, and then went of Defector’s Weld pub in Shepard’s Bush.

‘It was accepted that Ms Hunt was drunk, and she was swaying very close to Ms Woods.

‘You went outside quickly and without warning, you pushed Ms Woods with force causing all three of you to fall to the floor and she broke her leg as a result.

‘It impacted on her physically, emotionally, psychologically, and financially. She has had significant problems ever since, the medical evidence confirms that.

‘Therefore, I find there has clearly been a grave injury with a highly likelihood of permanence for Ms Woods.

‘I accept this was totally out of character for you. I note you have been a carer for your disabled mother for a considerable number of years.

‘I cannot give you any credit for a guilty plea, you were found guilty after a trial.’

Stephenson, of Elvaston Place, Kensington, was sentenced to nine months in prison suspended for 12 months and required to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the community and to pay £21,000 in compensation to Ms Woods within three months.