Father and son thugs subjected a grandad to a terrifying attack in a pub while swearing at him and calling him a "Mackem
Robert Heels was visiting his caravan in Amble, Northumberland, with his wife when he was approached by Conner Smith, who said he recognised him through work. Smith's dad, Edward Smith, then went over to him and ended up assaulting him.
Conner Smith and another man joined in, with the victim being kicked on the ground and Newcastle Crown Court heard he was left traumatised by the ordeal and frightened to visit his caravan in case there was a repeat.
CCTV from inside the Harbour Inn, in Amble, on a Sunday afternoon in September 2019 shows an apparently friendly initial exchange, with Conner Smith shaking Mr Heels' hand. His dad then goes over and ends up face to face with the victim for reasons that aren't clear. Mr Heel's wife said she saw Edward throw a punch at her husband then Conner joined in and the bar owner tried to intervene.
The court heard Conner said: "Get him out, he's a Mackem, get him out". Mrs Heels tried to restrain Conner but he pushed her over a table and she then saw her husband being kicked by four men, including the Smiths.
Neil Pallister, prosecuting, said: "She heard them shouting do him in, scum, Mackem."
In his account, the pub landlord said he dreaded the Smiths coming in because of their disruptive drunken behaviour. He said when Conner Smith had shaken Mr Heels' hand, Mr Heels had asked him: "Why are you shaking my hand, last time you were calling me Mackem scum?"
He said Edward Smith then went over and appeared to be intimidating the victim, who stood up and was pushed over by Edward. There was a lot of swearing in their verbal abuse. Mr Pallister said: "He said they were coming at him from all angles like a pack of wolves. He told him to stop or they would kill him.
"He said Edward and Conner were shouting 'You Mackem, we are local lads, we don't want your type up here, Mackem." The court heard a family had come in but left as their young daughter screamed at what she saw, while a group of women were left upset.
Mr Heels was left with a bloodshot eye, bruises to his face and head, a 12cm abrasion on his forehead and scalp and his ribs were sore and tender. Mrs Heels was left bleeding from a cut to the top of her leg caused by broken glass.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Heels, who had to have counselling afterwards, said: "I feel really shocked. I have never been kicked like that before and this has knocked my confidence. My life has been severely impacted and continues to be so. Before this I spent most weekends at my holiday home in Amble."
He added that he no longer feels able to take his two young granddaughters and said: "The fear of being attacked again terrifies me." His wife added: "I was crying when I saw his injuries and I couldn't persuade him to go back to the caravan for a long time and we are reluctant to go to the pub now.
"Rob is a changed man. Even when I went out he was constantly ringing me checking I was safe. After the way they behaved like animals, showing no remorse, it made me feel anxious. This has totally changed both of us."
Edward Smith, 62, of Fontburn, Amble, who has 37 previous convictions but a long time ago and nothing for violence and Conner Smith, 26, of Station Road, North Broomhill, Northumberland, who has no previous convictions, both admitted affray and their not guilty pleas to assault were accepted.
They were each sentenced to 18 months suspended for two years with 200 hours unpaid work, a two month curfew between 8pm and 6am and £500 compensation, to be paid at £10 a week. Recorder Christopher Rose said it was a "prolonged" and "particularly horrible and unpleasant" attack which had "devastating" consequences.
Jamie Adams, representing both, said: "Neither of these men have been responsible for anything like this in the past. They have both got impeccable work records, they are both in employment and highly thought of. They have made it plain how ashamed they are at the way it progressed in the way it did. They are really deeply sorry about it.
"They don't want Mrs Heels or anyone to be fearful to go about their business in Amble." He added that Conner wants to join the RAF and Edward has been diagnosed with skin cancer.
