A man was left in a coma and unable to speak or recognise his own parents after being attacked while out drinking in Liverpool city centre.
Kyle Brummell was innocently "minding his own business" in a Mathew Street bar when he was brutally knocked unconscious by James Guy. He had to learn how to talk again after suffering life-changing injuries during the assault and nearly burned his house down as a result of the brain injury he sustained.
Liverpool Crown Court heard today, Wednesday, that Mr Brummell had been out celebrating his friend's birthday on the afternoon of June 11 last year. Joanne Moore, prosecuting, described how the group, from Wigan, were "dancing, laughing and enjoying themselves" in Hardy's bar when one of their group - Mark Edwards - spilled his drink onto Guy.
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The 37-year-old, of Bradfield Road in Crewe, responded by tipping his beer over the man's head. Mr Edwards was then seen on CCTV footage, which was played to the court, throwing an unknown object at the defendant.
Guy retaliated again by punching Mr Brummell once to the left-hand side of his face, with the 35-year-old hitting his head as he fell from a bar stool. He remained unconscious on the dancefloor for around 40 minutes, and was only "revived" once he was transported to Aintree Hospital.
The victim suffered "significant" swelling and a bleed on the brain, being put on an intubator and remaining in intensive care for two days. Mr Brummell spent a total of four weeks in hospital after suffering "life-changing" injuries.
Ms Moore said he had been "sitting minding his own business" at the time of the incident, adding: "This was an unprovoked attack on a person who he had never met before - it has had a massive effect and will likely have an effect for many more years to come. This was no doubt a day out which everybody was enjoying, but ended with life-changing injuries as a result of the defendant's actions."
In a statement read out to the court on his behalf, Mr Brummell described himself as having previously been a "fit and healthy person" but said that "has all changed". He said he was in a coma for a "number of days" afterwards, while it was a "number of weeks before he was able to put a sentence together" - requiring speech and language therapy to correct the issue - and "struggled to recognise his own parents".
The roofer has been left unable to work "due to the risk of falling" from the heights where he carries out his trade and suffers from anxiety, depression and blurred vision. Mr Brummell has had a total of eight seizures since, with two resulting in further hospital treatment.
He also has Tourette's syndrome, which he says has "got 100 times worse" since the incident while he has also developed new ticks. His statement recalled one occasion on which he "almost burned his house down" as he forgot he was cooking food and only remembered once his mum had returned home.
Mr Brummell added: "I don't believe I will ever make a full recovery. This is something I will have to live with for the rest of my life."
Guy left the premises following the assault, but later handed himself in at a police station after an appeal by Merseyside Police. The married dad-of-two has no previous convictions.
Rosemary Proctor, defending, told the court: "Mr Brummell sustained a grave and life-changing injury and Mr Guy understands that. This is his first conviction.
"His friends and colleagues know him as a hard worker and a good husband and father. That has been his life, friends and family.
"Up until this offence, it can be said his contribution to the lives of others and society was wholly positive. Mr Guy is under no illusions as to the gravity of what he did that evening.
"That split second decision had devastating consequences and he is deeply ashamed. He doesn't intend to put himself in that situation again."
Guy admitted wounding without intent during an earlier hearing. He was handed a 21-month imprisonment suspended for 18 months and told to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 12 days and a 56-day alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement as well as being ordered to pay £275 in court costs.
Sentencing, Recorder Nicola Daly said: "All of you appear to have been enjoying your afternoon. Mr Brummell and Mr Edwards can be seen dancing and laughing.
"It appears there was much joviality ongoing. All that appears to have happened is somebody has accidentally knocked into you.
"That - within a minute, maybe less - has led to some obvious bad feeling. There may have been something thrown at you, but you lost your temper - whatever it was, you were not justified in going over and punching him to the floor.
"His injuries continue to have a massive impact on his life and are likely to for many years to come. This was impulsive and spontaneous, and is properly described as a short-lived assault.
"You are a man who is genuinely remorseful. But for that genuine remorse, you could have been going to prison."
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