A drunken thug battered an innocent woman in an unprovoked street attack that led to her having several teeth removed.
Declan Connerton followed his victim and her friends after they got off a bus. He hurled abuse at them then punched his victim to the ground and kicked her up to five times, knocking her unconscious.
Connerton’s attack unfolded in the early hours of July 4 as a group of women travelled home on the 10A bus from Liverpool to St Helens. After they got off on Warrington Road, Whiston, a fellow passenger did the same and told them he was worried for their safety because of Connerton’s behaviour.
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Nardine Nemat, prosecuting, said the group then heard Connerton shouting at them, calling one an “ugly cow” then the sound of footsteps behind them. He hit one of the group before punching another to the floor after she questioned why he did it.
Ms Nemat said: “Whilst on the ground the defendant then kicked her to the face and head.” Liverpool Crown Court heard up to five kicks were delivered, knocking the woman unconscious. The attack knocked her bottom front teeth out of place, leaving her in need of dental treatment that has cost hundreds of pounds across almost two dozen appointments.
Connerton, of Sefton Close in Kirkby, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Ms Nemat said the 26-year-old had six previous convictions for seven offences, including assaulting a PC and affray after an incident that saw him handed a Football Banning Order.
The court was told that, having drunk 13 bottles of lager and half a bottle of whiskey, he was involved in an altercation with another man. Details of the match the row unfolded at, which led to Connerton being prosecuted in Sussex, were not shared in court.
Callum Ross, defending, said this latest prosecution was a “watershed moment” for his client who now realised the issues he had with alcohol and violence. He said he was in employment, had stopped drinking alcohol and had recently become a dad.
Mr Ross added: “The defendant does respectfully ask, through me, for the court to consider whether it could reach a point where the sentence could be suspended.”
Judge Stuart Driver, QC, said: “She was on the ground when you kicked her in the face and head about five times. That was very dangerous. It was an unprovoked attack on a woman in the street at night and as well as being serious, the injuries are going to have a long-term, ongoing effect on her life.”
With Connerton having been involved in the football match incident after his attack in Whiston, Judge Driver added: “It renders your expression of remorse shallow and hollow.” He sentenced Connerton to 18 months in jail.
