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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Dan Haygarth

'Disgrace' as thug avoids jail for bar attack which left son with life-changing injuries

People have shared their sympathy for a family whose life has been turned "upside down" after their son suffered life-changing injuries.

Kyle Brummell, 35, was knocked unconscious in Mathew Street bar Hardy's on June 11 last year. Kyle, from Wigan, was "minding his own business" while out celebrating his friend's birthday.

At Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday, prosecutor Joanne Moore described how Kyle's group were "dancing, laughing and enjoying themselves" in Hardy's when one of their group - Mark Edwards - spilled his drink onto James Guy.

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Guy, 37, of Bradfield Road in Crewe, then tipped 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 Kyle once to the left-hand side of his face. He hit 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 taken to hospital.

Kyle suffered significant swelling and two bleeds on the brain. He was in a coma, put on a ventilator and then remained in critical care in Liverpool for days. He then spent weeks in hospital and is now living with his parents, still feeling the effects of the attack.

On Thursday, the ECHO spoke to Kyle's mum Lynda about the incident and the suspended sentence for Guy.

She said: "I've got no words, we're all very upset, we've had loads of messages from friends and family saying they can't believe it."

James Guy outside Liverpool Crown Court (Liverpool Echo)

She added: "There's no closure. The sentence could have given a bit of closure, but I feel like he's laughing at us all. We feel like we're living the sentence because of Kyle's injury."

About finding out Kyle had been injured, Lynda said: "That call we got is every parent's worst nightmare. You worry when they're in their teens and in their 20s, but 35, getting a call like that is horrendous.

"He was in a coma on the ventilator for three days in critical care in Liverpool. They then referred him to the ward upstairs. He couldn't walk, talk, eat. He had nurses with him at all times, he didn't know where he was, he was all confused.

"We had to shower him. It was absolutely heartbreaking to see our son, who is normally so full of life, to be like that. He had to be fed liquidised food, so he lost a stone and a half.

"He couldn't swallow, there was a risk of him choking. It's just been an absolutely horrendous time, the worst time in our entire lives."

Guy admitted wounding without intent during an earlier hearing and avoided jail on Wednesday. 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.

Since the article was published, ECHO readers have shared their views. On Facebook, Lisa Bostock said: "Shocking outcome for the victim".

Alan Williams said: "Sick of mindless thugs thinking they can do what they like", while Joe Sparks said: "A disgraceful sentence which should be appealed immediately by the CPS".

Dawn O'Hare said: "It's disgusting that he never got jailed! I don't know Kyle or his family, but big love to you all".

Shane Threadgold said: "It's no justice at all".

Yesterday, Kyle's mum Lynda said: "The fact you can go and have your life completely changed, but he's ended up walking free.

"I'm upset, angry, frustrated, I'm heartbroken. We all are."

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