A heated confrontation between two men in a pub suddenly turned violent when one of them angrily lashed out and knocked the victim to the floor with a "heavy" punch, causing a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain. Words were exchanged between them before the devastating punch was landed.
The serious injuries suffered by the man could easily have led to him dying, Hull Crown Court heard. Jack Matthews, 28, of 21st Avenue, north Hull, admitted an offence of inflicting grievous bodily harm on the other man on April 24 last year.
He was originally accused of causing grievous bodily harm with intent but that charge was dropped by the prosecution. Olivia Fraser, prosecuting, said that Matthews and the man were in the Grafton Hotel in Grafton Street, off Beverley Road, Hull, when there was an incident. Words were exchanged between them and Matthews punched the man, causing him to fall to the floor.
The victim suffered a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain. He appeared, from witness statements, to have made a full recovery. "He was on the mend," said Miss Fraser.
Amber Hobson, mitigating, said that Matthews pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of inflicting grievous bodily harm. A not guilty verdict was entered on the more serious charge. Matthews had no previous convictions.
Judge John Thackray KC told Matthews: "You punched him heavily to the floor and then you carried on fairly briefly but, nevertheless, you carried on. There was a child present. It was in a public house.
"You were provoked to a degree. I can see that from the CCTV.
"One punch is sufficient to cause a fatality. Had that occurred here, you would be facing a sentence measured in many years.
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"As it was, despite there being a bleed on the brain, there has been a full recovery. There is no victim update.
"This is out of character for you. You are in work. Probation say your risk can be rehabilitated in the community."
Matthews, formerly of Kirkham Drive, west Hull, was given a one-year suspended prison sentence, a 120-day alcohol abstinence monitoring order and 15 days' rehabilitation. "If you breach the order and commit any offences in the next 12 months, you start with 12 months plus anything extra on top," said Judge Thackray.
"If you breach the order, you will be brought back to court and you may have to serve the sentence."