A Bootle teenager brutally battered a man with a bike seat, then stormed into his house and threatened "watch what happens now".
Alan Bassett, 18, of Kara Close, broke his 22-year-old victim's nose and cheek when he stepped into defend his father from the teen during a row on October 3 2021.
At Liverpool Crown Court today, October 20, Judge Eric Lamb said: "This is a serious incident of violence which, although there was only one victim, was actually directed against two - father and son."
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The incident occurred around 10.30pm after the victim's brothers informed him that a group of youths were causing trouble in the Balliol Road area. He went outside, but did not find anything, and returned to the house.
Around 10 minutes later he heard someone banging on the door and front windows, and went back outside to find a male standing in his front garden, and Bassett standing in the road nearby. They both ran off, with the victim giving chase onto Pembroke Road.
He apprehended the first male as he tried to get onto his bike, and the male screamed to Bassett for help.
Mr Jones, prosecuting,, said: "(The victim's) father had come out as well, and was outside at the scene, and as the defendant went towards the victim to assist his friend he left his own bike, and the victim's father went to pick the bike up.
"It was at that point the defendant began wrestling with the victim's father, pulled the bike seat from the bike and started threatening the victim and his father with it. He swung it once towards the victim's father and because of that, the victim let go of the male he'd apprehended and stepped in between his father and the defendant.
"The defendant then, using the bike seat, hit the victim to the left side of the head, and he described hearing bells ringing due to the force of the blow. He tried to grab the defendant, and the defendant then hit him again to the left side of the face."
The 22-year-old man suffered a broken nose, a broken cheekbone, a cut under his left eye, and a gash on his head as a result of the attack.
After battering his victim, Bassett and his friend fled the scene, and the victim and his father returned home, taking the bike with them. The pair then stormed the house, demanded the bike back, and threatened the family. Bassett gestured to his victim "as if he had a knife in his pocket" and said "watch what happens now."
Mr Morgan, defending, said: "Bassett is ashamed, embarrassed and regretful for the injuries he caused last year."
He pleaded guilty to unlawfully inflicing grievous bodily harm with intent, and was given a six month sentence in a youth offender's institution, suspended for 12 months. He must also attend a thinking skills programme.
Judge Lamb said: "You were 17 at the time of these events. The many people who know and love you have submitted references that make clear that there is a very different side to your character. Your character is a positive, good character... and for all these reasons those who know you are at a loss to know how it is that you involved yourself in this behaviour.
"The events you participated in were frightening for the victim, for he has spoken about the ongoing consequences of this assault, spoken about the anxiety that has been caused, and of course the pain he had to go through.
"It's no surprise to either myself or to those who have contact with you to hear... that you are ashamed, embarrassed and regretful about what happened."
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