Kieran Scholes, 21, who bit off part of a man's ear, was previously one of two teenagers who left a retired police officer with permanent brain damage in an unprovoked attack, the ECHO can reveal. Scholes, of Duke Street in New Brighton, was found guilty of wounding with intent and affray after a trial and is due to be sentenced next month.
Previous attack on jogger
In 2021, Scholes, then 15, and another youth attacked David Browne, a retired Cheshire Police officer and University of Chester lecturer, on New Brighton Promenade. Browne saw the teens swinging pieces of wood near the Black Pearl pirate ship and confronted them. They told him to 'f*** off' and then attacked him with the wooden planks, repeatedly hitting him on the head and body.
Browne managed to reach a bench but the assault continued, with the teens throwing wood at him. One was heard to say, 'Let's f***ing finish him off.' Browne began fitting and stopped breathing as police arrived. He was rushed to Aintree Hospital and stabilized, but suffered a traumatic brain injury, significant memory loss, and was unable to drive or return to work.
Sentencing and reporting restrictions
Both youths admitted wounding with intent and were sentenced to five years and five years and two months respectively. Reporting restrictions due to their age meant Scholes could not be named until now, despite a legal challenge by the ECHO to lift them.
Sentencing in 2022, Judge Brian Cummings KC said: 'This was a joint attack, irrespective of which of you did what. You were both willing participants and are equally responsible for the consequences. Striking someone to the head with a substantial stave might have easily been fatal. It would have been murder, but for the intervention of a police officer who was fortunately at the scene in time.'
New attack in New Brighton
On December 19 last year, Scholes and his brother Corey, 19, chased Connor Kelly and Joseph McCarthy-Harrington on Seabank Road in New Brighton. CCTV showed the brothers armed with batons and wearing balaclavas. In the ensuing fight, Kieran Scholes bit Kelly's ear, severing part of it.
Gerry Baxter, prosecuting, said: 'Corey Scholes repeatedly punches Kelly to the head and body. Kieran Scholes then bites Kelly's ear and severs part of his ear. Corey Scholes can then be seen to stamp on the same side of Kelly's face.' Kelly sustained a 'partial amputation of his ear'.
Other defendants sentenced
Corey Scholes admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray and was handed an eight-month imprisonment suspended for 12 months with a rehabilitation activity requirement and a £500 fine. Abbey Rowlands, 23, of Walton, pleaded guilty to affray and careless driving and received nine months suspended for a year with a £300 fine and five penalty points on her licence. McCarthy-Harrington, 24, of Egremont, admitted affray and possession of an offensive weapon and was given seven months suspended for a year with unpaid work. Kelly, 26, of Seacombe, pleaded guilty to affray and possession of an offensive weapon and was jailed for 12 months. Lowe, 24, of Poulton, admitted affray and was jailed for a year.
Recorder Anna Price told Kieran Scholes: 'You must not read anything into the fact that I am adjourning for this report. You know how serious this is. All sentences are open.' Scholes appeared tearful and said as he was remanded into custody: 'Can I have a little word with you judge, dead quick? I was being told I was looking at 10 years and now I'm getting told it's a minimum of 12. I've just not had any help at all.'
