A raging thug left a DJ with a brain injury in a one-punch attack after seeing him kiss the hand of his former partner.
The victim was apologising to the woman for being too drunk to carry out his role as a DJ months earlier when her ex, Michael Williamson-Gallagher, saw red. Already brooding at the end of his relationship, he asked the man to go outside to explain his feelings.
But despite the victim's attempts to calm the situation down, he was suddenly punched hard and fell back, smashing his head on the concrete and suffering a fractured skull and brain injury. Now Williamson-Gallagher, 26, of Moorfoot Gardens, Gateshead, has been jailed at Newcastle Crown Court.
Read more: Bedlington man set fire to girlfriend's clothes after falsely accusing her of being in porn video
It was on the evening of January 10 last year that the victim was out socialising with friends and ended up at No 28 bar, on Nelson Street, in Newcastle city centre. Williamson-Gallagher was also out with work colleagues from the same bar.
Neil Pallister, prosecuting, said his mood was described as "low", having recently split from his girlfriend, who was also on the night out. While in the bar, the victim approached Williamson-Gallagher's ex and apologised, having worked there as a DJ months earlier but having had to stop after getting too drunk.
Mr Pallister said: "[He] was clearly embarrassed and very apologetic and tried to hug her but they were too far apart so he kissed her hand. The defendant saw the kiss and walked towards him looking angry.
"He said to [him] 'if you do that in front of me again I'll kill you." He then invited him to go for a chat to explain and both men left the bar.
Mr Pallister said: "The defendant was shouting about [him], saying he was going to knock him out. [He] followed the defendant out of the bar and was trying to reason with him and de-escalate the situation.
"The defendant was then seen to use a closed fist to punch [him] once to the side of the head. The punch knocked him back and he fell and hit his head on the pavement, knocking him unconscious.
"Another witness said [he] was seen with his hands down by his side and didn't have any aggressive behaviour. The witness heard and saw the blow and him hit his head on the concrete."
The victim was left unconscious and was put into the recovery position by people as his attacker walked off. He was taken to hospital by ambulance and found to have a fractured skull, a blood clot between the skull and brain and bruising to his brain.
In a victim impact statement, he said he was left with intense headaches, memory problems, balance issues, difficulties sleeping and has been unable to work and lost his job and his confidence.
Williamson-Gallagher has seven previous convictions, including for assaulting his sister in 2017, when he threw a pan of water and a vase at her. He was also jailed in 2018 for assaulting a man, punching him in Grainger Street.
He pleaded guilty to GBH and was jailed for 15 months. Recorder Anthony Dunne told him: "Assaults like this can, on some unfortunate occasions, be fatal."
Stuart Graham, defending, said he had an "exceptionally difficult childhood". He added: "It's one blow but unfortunately he has got to pay the consequences for the injury that followed.
"He makes no excuses for his behaviour and is ashamed of it. He has no gripe with the male and liked him. He saw him with his former girlfriend and completely lost it. He wishes he could turn back the clock but, of course, he can't."
Read next:
- Benwell son of Tyneside doctor jailed for peddling Spice on streets of Newcastle and having taser
- Woman dragged from car in dimly-lit Gateshead restaurant car park by drug-hungry robber
- Sunderland woman who uses wheelchair and zimmer frame jailed for stabbing girlfriend in back
- Schoolboys threatened by drunken Newcastle knifeman after calling him a 'dirty old man'
- Police officer injured after Birtley drink driver reversed tipper truck towards his car during chase
