A JUDGE told a heroin addict who recently lost a leg after a major artery burst: "The likelihood of you reoffending is now significantly less."
Speaking outside Hull Crown Court, where he was sentenced for assaulting a drunk schizophrenic in Beverley, Alan Hardman said he hoped others would learn from mistakes he made.
Hardman said he became hooked on the Class A drug when he was aged 21, while serving a two-year sentence at HMP Hull for assault.
Doctors at Hull Royal Infirmary were forced to amputate his leg last month while Hardman, 45, was awaiting sentence for the attack on "vulnerable" Ben Doyle.
He is now wheelchair-bound.
Hardman, of Greenwood Avenue, Beverley, now hopes to use his experience to stop others taking a similar path.
He said: "Don't be a sheep and follow others like I was and say no to drugs.
"Heroin destroys lives. Not just your life, but your family's lives too.
"If I had known 20-odd years ago when I was in prison that I would be sitting here now in a wheelchair, with a leg missing, I would not have taken that first hit."
Hardman, who has a string of convictions for violence and dishonesty, said the experience of losing a leg has made him re-evaluate his whole life.
"I have been clean for seven weeks now," he said. "It's been devastating."
Hardman has been an inpatient at Hull Royal Infirmary for the past seven weeks, but was allowed out to attend court.
"About five weeks ago I was at home and my leg suddenly became numb," said Hardman.
"A friend took me to A&E, where a scan showed I had two blood clots. They were going to sort them, but then an artery burst.
"They put some clamps in to stop the bleeding, but I was told there was no circulation to my feet and they had to amputate below the knee.
"Not long after, I developed gangrene and the doctors had to amputate another section of my leg, above the knee."
Hardman and his co-accused Peter Anderson admitted assaulting Mr Doyle outside his home in Beverley, leaving him battered and bruised.
The court heard Anderson had visited Mr Doyle on January 26, 2013 following an earlier confrontation in Cherry Tree Lane, Beverley.
Prosecutor Christopher Dunn said: "It is quite clear that Mr Doyle had been drinking.
"There was an argument as a result of a discussion between Mr Doyle and Peter Anderson."
Anderson, 37, claimed he was attacked by Mr Doyle.
Later, Anderson called Hardman and met up to "sort it out" with Mr Doyle, the court was told.
"Mr Doyle came running out of his house and tried to hit Anderson," said Mr Dunn.
Anderson, who kicked Mr Doyle, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He also admitted two separate offences of supplying diamorphine and possession of cannabis.
Hardman, who punched Mr Doyle, pleaded guilty to common assault and breaching a suspended sentence.
Judge David Tremberg sentenced Anderson to 15 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and a two-year supervision order.
Hardman was given a 12-month conditional discharge for the assault and one day of imprisonment, which he has already served, for breaching the suspended sentence.
Judge Tremberg told Hardman: "Things have gone from bad to worse for you, resulting in the substantial removal of your leg."
• Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
• Crime news for Hull and East Yorkshire
