A man has been sentenced after a single punch during a night out in Newcastle left his victim with life-changing injuries, including bleeding on the brain and multiple skull fractures.
The Attack
Ethan McCoy, 25, was out in Newcastle city centre on July 20 last year to celebrate an engagement. The victim, who did not know McCoy, found him irritating because he was barging into people, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
After leaving a bar, the group headed to get food on the Groat Market around 3am. McCoy and the victim walked side by side with McCoy's girlfriend. The victim asked McCoy why he was "being a ****" and after an exchange of words, McCoy punched him once with significant force, causing him to fall straight back into the road, knocking him out and causing serious head injuries.
McCoy and his partner walked off, and passers-by came to the victim's aid, stopping cars travelling down the road where he was lying.
Aftermath and Injuries
McCoy caught up with other members of the group and told the victim's friend: "I've just knocked your mate out." He said he did it because the victim called him a ****, and asked the friend if he "wanted some as well".
The victim was taken to the RVI, where he was found to have bleeding across the brain, multiple skull fractures, air in his brain, and a perforated ear drum. He was discharged after 48 hours, but the injuries have had a long-term impact.
In a statement, the victim said: "I find it difficult to put into words how I feel about what happened and the impact it's had. One night and one punch has changed my life forever." He said he struggled to walk around his parents' garden without needing to lie down and spent most of his time sleeping and sitting in a dark room.
He said there are things he may never do again, such as rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, and going to the gym. He added: "All this has had a significant impact on my mental health. I had ambitions to climb challenging peaks around the world and now I can't even carry my own food shopping without shooting pains."
He needed six months before he could return to full-time working and still finds it exhausting. He said he is "not the person I was before" and has been told he is likely to continue experiencing headaches and fatigue. He now avoids going out because he worries the same thing could happen again and that he would "not be as fortunate". Even smiling hurts, so he tries to avoid it.
He added: "I know how fortunate I am to still be here. The effects of what happened that night will stay with me for the rest of my life."
Sentence
McCoy, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to inflicting GBH. He was sentenced to 18 months suspended for two years, with 250 hours unpaid work. He must also pay the victim £1,800 compensation at £100 a month and was given a seven-year restraining order.
Recorder Simon Rippon told him: "He can't even smile because of the damage you have done to the muscles in his face."
Brian Hegarty, defending, acknowledged the attack has had a devastating impact on the victim and that it was a "completely unacceptable assault". He said the judgement of all concerned was clouded by alcohol. He added: "The defendant has learned a sobering lesson about what can happen when physical violence is used in these sort of circumstances. He has demonstrated what's said to be genuine remorse and deep shame."
