A man was left unable 'to speak' or 'recognise' his parents after a brutal attack while on a night out. Kyle Brummell ended up in coma after being assaulted in Liverpool city centre.
He was said to be "minding his own business" in a local bar celebrating a friend's birthday when James Guy knocked him unconscious. The victim has been forced to learn how to speak again after suffering life-altering brain injuries as a result of the attack, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Mr Brummell also reportedly nearly burned his house down as a result of the damage done to his brain, as Liverpool Crown Court heard of his group "dancing, laughing and enjoying themselves" on the night he was attacked in June 2022.
One of Mr Brummell's group, a Mark Edwards, spilled a drink on Guy who responded by tipping his beer on to the man's head. Mr Edwards, as seen on CCTV footage, proceeded to throw an unknown object at the defendant with Guy retaliating with a punch towards Mr Brummell.
The 35-year-old hit his head off a bar stool and remained unconscious on the floor for around 40 minutes, the court heard, after suffering the blow to the left side of his face. He was only "revived" once he made it to Aintree Hospital.
Mr Brummell suffered "significant" swelling and a bleed on the brain and was on an incubator in intensive care for two days, spending a total of four weeks in hospital.
Joanne Moore, prosecuting, said he had been "sitting minding his own business" at the time of the incident, adding: "This was an unprovoked attack on a person who he had never met before - it has had a massive effect and will likely have an effect for many more years to come. This was no doubt a day out which everybody was enjoying, but ended with life-changing injuries as a result of the defendant's actions."
A statement read to the court on Mr Brummell's behalf described a previously "fit and healthy person" but that had "all changed" since the attack. It was said to be a "number of weeks before he was able to put a sentence together" with speech and language therapy required to solve the problem. He even "struggled to recognise his own parents," the court heard.
Mr Brummell had been left unable to continue his work as a roofer due to "the risk of falling" from heights. He is also said to be suffering from anxiety, depression and blurred vision and has had a total of eight seizures since, two of which required hospital treatment.
He also has Tourette's syndrome, which he says has "got 100 times worse" since the attack while he has also developed new ticks. His statement recalled one occasion on which he "almost burned his house down" as he forgot he was cooking some food and only remembered upon his mum's return to the house.
Mr Brummell added: "I don't believe I will ever make a full recovery. This is something I will have to live with for the rest of my life."
Guy left the bar shortly after the assault but handed himself in to a police station after seeing an appeal by Merseyside Police. He has no previous convictions.
Rosemary Proctor, defending, told the court: "Mr Brummell sustained a grave and life-changing injury and Mr Guy understands that. This is his first conviction.
"His friends and colleagues know him as a hard worker and a good husband and father. That has been his life, friends and family.
"Up until this offence, it can be said his contribution to the lives of others and society was wholly positive. Mr Guy is under no illusions as to the gravity of what he did that evening.
"That split second decision had devastating consequences and he is deeply ashamed. He doesn't intend to put himself in that situation again."
Guy admitted to wounding without intent during a previous hearing. He was sentenced to 21 months in prison suspended for 18 months and ordered 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.
Sentencing, Recorder Nicola Daly said: "All of you appear to have been enjoying your afternoon. Mr Brummell and Mr Edwards can be seen dancing and laughing.
"It appears there was much joviality ongoing. All that appears to have happened is somebody has accidentally knocked into you.
"That - within a minute, maybe less - has led to some obvious bad feeling. There may have been something thrown at you, but you lost your temper - whatever it was, you were not justified in going over and punching him to the floor.
"His injuries continue to have a massive impact on his life and are likely to for many years to come. This was impulsive and spontaneous, and is properly described as a short-lived assault.
"You are a man who is genuinely remorseful. But for that genuine remorse, you could have been going to prison."
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