A thug left a man unconscious with a sucker punch after a city centre confrontation in McDonald's.
Brandon Reay had spoken to the victim earlier in the night in Newcastle and they both ended up in the Grainger Street branch of the takeaway at 4.45am. A court heard their interaction was friendly until the victim turned to speak to a woman and Reay formed the view he had been told to "f*** off", which the other man denied.
Neil Pallister, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "He said the defendant became very aggressive and was trying to show off. He removed his shirt and started shouting 'Come outside' and tried to get him outside to fight.
Read more: South Shields alleged murder victim was stabbed ten times in the legs, jurors are told
"The complainant said he tried to avoid a confrontation and apologised if he had offended him and said he would go outside to talk. He went outside and the next thing he recalls is being on the ground with a police officer over him.
"He said his head hurt and his chin was bleeding. He thinks he lost consciousness. In his statement he says 'This has made me feel powerless and frightened'."
Police viewed CCTV from McDonald's, which showed Reay stepping forward and punching the victim once in the face, knocking him out. When he was arrested at the scene, he admitted responsibility. The victim was not seriously injured.
Reay, 23, of Wear Court, South Shields, who has a previous conviction for drunk and disorderly, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was sentenced to a community order with 100 hours unpaid work and must pay £500 compensation, £500 costs and must do a thinking skills programme.
Recorder Jonathan Sandiford QC told him: "Whatever went before it, he was not expecting you to strike him in the way you did and was taken completely by surprise.
"It's the potential, as unfortunately sometimes happens, for a person caught unawares in this way to smash their head on the pavement and you could have been facing a manslaughter charge."
Nick Cartmell, defending, said: "It was a single punch, the seriousness is what might have happened. He is working for Port of Tyne as a fork lift truck driver."
Read next:
- Ponteland pensioner admits smothering her 81-year-old husband after a disagreement over finances
- Stakeford pervert jailed for attempted rape and sexual assault of two schoolgirls
- Kind woman sexually assaulted by North Shields man she allowed to stay at her home for the night
- £1m Roker explosion victim lost everything and cat died when neighbour cut gas pipe and flicked lighter
- Elswick thug attacked girlfriend with mop handle and smashed through her window armed with a knife
