A man attacked an "unruly" drinker outside of a pub and left him with a severe mental impairment after punching and kicking his head.
Christopher Miller was drinking in Harley's bar in South Shields when a man was refused service due to his behaviour after being requested to comply with Covid regulations. It was then that Miller attempted to escort the man out of the bar, but an argument ensued and the man produced a hammer out of the boot of his car which was parked outside.
Miller then attacked the man, punching and then kicking him in the head, causing him to fall heavily on the concrete. The victim was later taken to hospital and went on to suffer a bleed on the brain and now has a severe mental impairment which is likely to last the rest of his life.
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On Friday, Miller, 37, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court to be sentenced for affray. He had pleaded guilty to the offence, which was committed at around 9pm on July 14 2020.
The court heard that the victim was drinking in the pub and was asked by bar staff to comply with the Covid restrictions that were in place in the bar. Prosecutor Matthew Simpson said the man "took exception" to this and began acting in a disorderly manner and was being "unruly in the bar".
He said: "He was swearing and was asked to leave the bar by persons who were there. One person was the defendant. The parties moved outside and an argument ensued. The complainant then goes to his car and gets a roofing hammer from his boot."
It was then that Miller began punching the man "multiple times" and kicked him in the head, knocking him unconscious. The court heard that Miller later returned to the man and put him in the recovery position and never denied hitting him, but claimed self-defence. The entire incident was captured on CCTV.
Mr Simpson said that the man was taken to South Tyneside District Hospital but he discharged himself during a "lucid interval". Hours later he was seen by the same police who'd attended the affray and seemed to be "dazed". The officers dropped him off home but a friend later found the victim unconscious in his car and called an ambulance.
The man was then taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary where he stayed for several weeks to be treated for his serious injuries, including a bleed on the brain. The court heard he now has a "severe mental impairment" and no longer works and is unable to drive. He also has trouble with his memory and has speech and movement issues.
Brian Hegarty, defending Miller, said: "It's clear he didn't want trouble, didn't start the trouble but the trouble ultimately found him. As a result of that he has found himself in court for the first time in many years. He was leading a very stable life with a good job and prospects and is well thought of and is progressing in his career.
"He wishes he conducted himself differently and was trying to bring this matter to a peaceful conclusion. He later returned to the complainant and put him in the recovery position. He is soon to move away from the area and is about to become a father again."
Sentencing Miller, of Sunderland Road, South Shields, Recorder Chris Williams accepted that the victim's behaviour was "troublesome" but said he was left with serious injuries. Miller was given 15 months prison, suspended for two years and must undertake 30 rehabilitation days.
