Disgusting footage of the moment a thug punched and stamped on the head of a hotel receptionist who told him no rooms were available has been released. As a result of the vicious assault, the victim suffered hairline fractures to his ribs.
Joshua Leatherland, 23, assaulted receptionist Thundiyil Abraham at the Ibis hotel in Newport in the early hours of July 16 after he became angry when told there was no vacancy. The defendant and a female companion continued to demand a room and he offered Mr Abraham an extra £100 to pocket, but he was refused.
Mr Abraham was left with severe injuries including a hairline fracture to his rib which was extremely painful. A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday heard the defendant would "not take no for an answer" and upon returning from the toilet he continued his protestations.
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Footage played to the court at the sentencing hearing was released today and shows Leatherland lifting the entrance counter in the private reception area and repeatedly punching Mr Abraham to the face. Describing the assault, prosecutor Ffion Tomos said: "Mr Abraham fell to the floor and whilst on the floor the defendant proceeded to stamp on his head on a number of occasions. As Mr Abraham tried to get up he was stamped to the head and back area. The defendant was kicking Mr Abraham as he lay helplessly on the floor. The female companion was shouting 'Don't stamp on his head, don't stamp on his back'.
"Mr Abraham could feel forces and blows being directed towards his head and back. He was stamped by the defendant and felt the defendant digging his heel and twisting it. He was unable to escape and the next thing he remembers is getting up and everything spinning in front of him."
The court heard Mr Abraham was assisted by a hotel guest but Leatherland turned his attentions to the woman and forcefully pushed her to the floor. She did not cooperate with the police and did not provide a statement. Both attacks were captured on CCTV and were played at the sentencing hearing.
As a result of the assault, Mr Abraham suffered a hairline fracture to his rib, bruising to his back, shoulders, and spine and swelling. In a victim personal statement, he said he had suffered difficulty breathing and had to take strong painkillers to deal with the pain.
He was unable to drive because of his injuries and a holiday to visit family in India was ruined because of hospital appointments. He is on holiday leave from work but would suffer financially as he was worried about going back to work. Mr Abraham continued: "This is the worst behaviour inflicted on me in the role I have carried out. I am extremely worried about going back to that job and it's causing me panic but I support my family financially. My wife and children are very worried about me and they're upset."
Leatherland, of Coniston Close, Newport, was arrested on Malpas Road but refused to engage with police and became aggressive. When he was taken into custody, he said he was "proud of the fact" he had been to prison for punching a female police officer and said it "felt amazing" when he threw punches at her and kicked her. An officer noted the defendant had blood on his shoes, but he attempted to lick it off in an attempt to dispose of evidence.
He later pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault by beating. The court heard he had previous convictions for numerous violent offences including assaults, violent disorder and assaulting emergency workers.
Leatherland was sentenced to two years and eight months imprisonment. He was also made subject to a restraining order preventing him from contacting Mr Abraham and attending the Ibis hotel in Newport for 10 years.
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