A former bantamweight boxer broke a man's ankle during an “unprovoked assault” in a Bold Street restaurant, a court heard.
Craig Lyon appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to one count of wounding and to assaulting an emergency worker. Louise McCloskey, prosecuting, explained Monty Foulkes was eating dinner at Elif restaurant on Bold Street in the city centre, on Saturday November 13, 2021.
During his meal Mr Foulkes noticed a nearby table of three men and three women that were being loud. Mr Foulkes stood up and he and Lyon very briefly exchanged words.
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Ms McCloskey said: “The defendant stood up and there was a brief exchanging of words over clothing. He then punched the victim to the face without provocation or warning.”
The victim recalled being punched, but CCTV footage of the incident shown in court, displayed Lyon, of Liverpool Road, Haydock, headbutting Mr Foulkes before punching him repeatedly. The victim fell to the floor but Lyon continued hitting him, before a member of staff and another male intervened to pull him away.
The footage shows the victim’s partner shouting at Lyon as he continually fought against those holding him back, attempting to get at the victim. Members of security had to help Mr Foulkes to his feet as he was unable to stand, but he was eventually taken outside and to hospital.
The victim suffered a fractured ankle which had to be treated with surgery, where it was manipulated under sedation and metal plates and screws inserted. He was not discharged for two days.
Police arrived at the restaurant and Lyon was arrested, but the father-of-three continued acting extremely aggressively towards officers. Ms McCloskey said: “When the defendant was arrested, his behaviour deteriorated and he made efforts to headbutt and spit at the complainant.”
He kicked a police officer on his right shin at least twice, and continually tried to spit at police. They tried to put a spit hood on him, but he tried to bite and headbutt them.
He was taken to the floor but continued acting aggressively. Officer Alexander Williams reported cuts and blood blisters to his hands following the incident.
In a victim personal statement written by Mr Foulkes and read by the prosecution, he detailed that he suffered ongoing pain from the attack and was unable to play football because of his ankle injury. He also had to take two and a half weeks off work to recover.
Lyon has seven previous convictions for eight offences, including two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, one count of affray, and one count of threatening behaviour. Andrew McInnes, defending, said: “The defendant has clearly misread the situation.
“We can see him initially with a smile on his face but clearly after some conversation with the complainant, he has completely overreacted. He is shocked by his behaviour.”
Mr McInnes said his client suffered from anxiety and used alcohol to calm himself down when in social situations, and has recently lost his job. He said the recent breakdown of a twenty year relationship is likely responsible for Lyon’s return to criminal activity after 13 years where he remained out of the justice system.
In sentencing, Recorder Tania Griffiths KC said: “It was a very nasty and unprovoked assault. It was only short lived because other people stopped you. You can see how much you wanted to get at him and no doubt if you had not been stopped you would have carried on. This was an unprovoked and serious attack.”
Recorder Griffiths KC sentenced Lyon to 99 weeks imprisonment.
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