A man has been jailed for five years and four months after attacking his neighbour with a broken chair leg during a dispute over noise, leaving the victim with life-threatening injuries. Archie Rixon, 21, assaulted Gino Birch in the communal hallway of a converted house in Ethelbert Crescent, Margate, on March 9, 2025.
Canterbury Crown Court heard that Rixon had made numerous complaints to his landlord about Mr Birch, who lived in the flat above and was said to shout and keep other residents awake. On the morning of the attack, Rixon heard what sounded like items being thrown down the stairs and confronted Mr Birch, who was intoxicated and holding a bottle.
Prosecutor Ryan Richter told the court: “He picked up a broken wooden chair and attacked Mr Birch with it. He accepts that he was angry and intended to cause him really serious harm.” The attack began at about 7.15am, but the victim was not found until 11.30am, lying barely conscious on the floor.
Mr Birch was taken to hospital and transferred to intensive care with a large gash on his head, a bleed on the brain, multiple skull fractures, facial fractures, and deep wounds to his thigh and buttock. He was sedated and put on a ventilator, with his breathing tube removed on March 14. In a victim impact statement, Mr Birch said he now suffers from anxiety, panic, balance issues, and struggles to dress himself.
Rixon initially denied involvement but later admitted the attack to a counsellor, and incriminating messages were found on his phone. He pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent. His lawyer said he had ADHD and no previous offences. Judge Simon Taylor KC described the case as “very sad for everybody” and noted that Rixon “snapped” during the confrontation.
