A violent offender carried out a vicious, unprovoked attack on his best friend who he'd known for over 20 years.
John Pinder began punching and kicking the man after an argument broke out when they shared drinks in the victim's home.The attack ended the pair's friendship, with the victim sustaining a fractured wrist and a broken nose.
Following the attack, Pinder then began intimidating the victim by sending a "flurry" of messages where he referred to him as a "grass". On Monday, the 31-year-old appeared at Durham Crown Court via link from HMP Durham to be sentenced for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and witness intimidation. He had pleaded guilty to the offences.
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The court heard that on September 3, 2021, Pinder had gone to the man's home where they both began drinking before an argument broke out. Martin Towers, prosecuting, said: "They had been friends for over 20 years and they were drinking. An argument developed regarding a family matter.
"The victim remembers Pinder standing up and walking towards him before he started punching him in the ribs and head. The defendant kept punching him with full force and punched him in excess of 10 times."
Mr Towers said that Pinder then began kicking the man, causing him to "pass out". The man sustained a fractured wrist which required surgery and a broken nose, as well as bruises and swelling.
The court was told that following the attack, between September 12 2021 and January 1 2022, Pinder sent a "flurry of messages" to the victim where he referred to him as a "grass" and made many calls. The victim said the attack left him frightened and had considered moving out of the area.
Mr Towers said that Pinder had previous convictions, including a prison sentence for grievous bodily harm in 2014 and a three year prison sentence for assault and battery in 2018.
David Eager, defending, said Pinder's "main mitigation" was his guilty pleas and that no threats had been made in regards to the witness intimidation. He said: "He was contacting someone who was his best friend for many years. The defendant knows he's destroyed the friendship by his actions, which he bitterly regrets."
Sentencing Pinder, whose address was given as HMP Lincoln, Judge James Adkin said he had a "terrible record for violence" and jailed him for 28 months. A 15 year restraining order was also imposed.
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