A MAN from Okehampton who armed himself with a baton for an argument has been jailed for repeatedly punching the man with whom he was in conflict. Exeter Crown Court was told that Kristofer Princewill attacked James Taylor in January while on bail on serious drug charges. Princewill has since been jailed for three years and eleven months after a jury convicted him of the narcotics offences, two charges of possessing class A substances with intent to supply. They came to light when almost 5,000 ecstasy tablets and a bag of crack cocaine spilled out of the back of his motorcycle when it was in collision with an Express and Echo delivery van at Cheriton Bishop. Princewill, 24, of Crocken Tor Road, Okehampton, admitted affray against Mr Taylor. Judge Graham Cottle last week sentenced Princewill to a three-month jail sentence, concurrent to his existing prison term for the drug crimes. The court was told that Princewill, who had 31 previous convictions, went to Mr Taylor?s home over a dispute. Judge Cottle said: ?He goes there with an extendable baton. There is a physical confrontation. He strikes Mr Taylor with his fists several times.? Mr Taylor suffered a bruised head and arms and a small cut on his head. Richard Crabb, in mitigation, said Princewill?s guilty plea to affray had been accepted, so a concurrent jail sentence was appropriate. Judge Cottle agreed, saying that any consecutive term could considerably lengthen the defendant?s time in prison on a legal technicality. Princewill was jailed in March for the drugs offences, which happened in September, 2003. The self-employed bricklayer and fitness instructor was driving a Yamaha bike that crashed into the van. The drugs had an estimated street value of between £21,000 and £35,000. Judge Cottle then told him it was clear he had been a drugs courier taking a delivery to its destination.
