A Coatbridge dad who fractured a man's eye socket in a "random" attack while out on a stag do in Liverpool has avoided jail.
Scott Carter, 32, was with around 24 friends when he attacked his victim Aaron Suleman in the early hours of the morning on August 28.
He had been under the influence of cocaine and alcohol since 11am that day when Mr Suleman attempted to squeeze past him in the Black Rabbit bar. CCTV footage of the incident played at Liverpool Crown Court showed Carter taking a step back before turning around and punching the stranger in the face, the Liverpool Echo reports.
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Joanne Cronshaw, prosecuting, said: “The defendant was standing next to a metal pole on the dancefloor when Mr Suleman put his hands on Carter to squeeze past him. Carter took offence to this and punched Mr Suleman in the face, causing his head to smash backwards into the metal pole leaving him unconscious on the floor.”
Mr Suleman suffered a two-centimetre gash to the back of his head, bruising and swelling to the face, a fractured eye socket with a deviation of the eye, damage to his teeth, and nerve damage in his mouth. He required surgery on his mouth area and dental work.
A victim's personal statement written by Mr Suleman was read to the court, detailing the impact the attack has had on him.
It read: “I feel this incident has ruined my life. I had a difficult experience with treatment because my face was too swollen and I could not speak.”
Mr Suleman also said he struggles to lift heavy objects during the course of his job as this causes him to have a black eye, and at the time of the statement, he could not feel his back teeth.
He said the dental work cost him around £1,700, and he had to take a month off work following the incident. Carter was interviewed and claimed Mr Suleman had squared up to him, causing him to feel scared and react by punching him in the face.
Carter has 11 previous convictions for 26 offences, the majority of which are of a similar nature and occurred in bars and pubs while he was under the influence of alcohol.
Dominic Thomas, defending, told the court that his client has various dependents and a son with specific needs whom he cares for three days a week. He said despite his history of violent offences, Carter holds down a full time job and has not been before the courts since 2017.
Judge David Swinnerton said Carter "deserved to go to prison", but said he was prepared to hand down a suspended sentence
He said: “This has been a decision I have found hard to come to because in many ways you totally deserve to go to prison. Were it not for the other people that rely on you and your support, I would have sent you to prison right away.
“You need to think before you go out and not drink so heavily.” Judge Swinnerton assured Carter this was his last chance and said he would most likely go to prison if he committed further offences.
Carter was handed a 14-month prison sentence suspended for two years, and told to complete 30 rehabilitation days plus 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £4,500 in compensation to Mr Suleman plus £500 in costs.
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