A drunken thug attacked three men in a Northumberland town centre - knocking one of them unconscious.
Steven Ross was wandering around Hexham when he encountered three young men in the town centre. The 40-year-old then launched an unprovoked and violent attack on the three men.
During the incident, Ross punched one of the men to the head, causing him to fall backwards onto the concrete pavement and he was knocked unconscious until he was taken to hospital. The punch caused significant injury to the man who now must abstain from alcohol and driving due to the serious risk of epileptic seizures.
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On Thursday, Ross appeared at Newcastle Crown Court via link from HMP Durham to be sentenced for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assault by beating, and section 20 grievous bodily harm.
The court heard that on October 30, 2020 Ross was drunk and walking around Hexham town centre when he attacked three young men in "short succession". Judge Amanda Rippon said they were three "violent offences" and that Ross punched one of the men in the head.
She said: "One of the men was punched to the head, causing him to fall back and hit his head on the concrete road, which caused haemorrhaging."
The court heard the man was knocked out until he was taken to hospital. Due to the injuries sustained, the man now cannot drink alcohol or drive due to there being a 30% risk of epileptic seizure. The court was told that the victim still had not returned to work in February this year.
Ross had 35 previous convictions for 66 offences, many for public order and violence.
John Crawford, defending, said Ross was "ashamed of his behaviour" and had written a letter to the court where he shows "regrets for his actions". Mr Crawford said Ross had shown "genuine remorse" and had no excuses for the way he acted.
Judge Rippon said the attacks had affected the three men in different ways and said it was "extremely violent and unprovoked". Ross was given an extended prison sentence of five years, four years of which will be custodial.
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