A shirtless thug left a man bleeding and unconscious after punching him once to the face.
Dean Martin was captured on CCTV punching a man in the face for no apparent reason as the victim walked home from Morrison's on July 20 this year. The man, who was knocked out in the attack, was later found by emergency services and had no idea what had happened.
Martin, of Wood Vue, Spennymoor, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Wednesday, via link from HMP Durham, to be sentenced for assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He had previously pleaded guilty to the offence.
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Jon Harley, prosecuting, said the victim had been drinking at The Brewers Arms in Spennymoor with his dad before he walked to a nearby Morrisons. He said: "He went into the store and bought alcohol and left. His next memory was waking up and people standing around him asking if he was OK - he couldn't remember what had happened. He was aware he had sustained injuries as there was something wrong with the back of his head and there was bleeding to his face."
Mr Harley added: "CCTV was viewed from Oxford Road which showed the victim waling through a car park with his alcohol. He was followed by the defendant, who was shirtless, and another male. The defendant approaches the victim and there was a short conversation before the defendant delivered a single blow with his fist to the victim's head, causing him to stumble towards a car. The action then moved away from the CCTV screens."
Martin, who had 18 previous convictions for 36 offences, was later arrested but gave no comment to all questions in interview.
Fiona Lamb, defending, said Martin was a dad-of-three and asked the judge to consider imposing a community order. She added he was a "low risk" and that there was a "chance of rehabilitation".
Sentencing Martin, Judge Jo Kidd said he was "heavily intoxicated" when he carried out the offence. She said: "The "extent of the particular injury you did to him is not entirely clear. What is clear is that the consequences of your actions were sufficient to knock him to the ground unconscious." Martin was given a six month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months and ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid work. He must also complete a "thinking skills" programme.
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