A teenager smashed a man's teeth with a pool cue in a Northumberland pub on New Year's Day, leaving the victim with lacerated lips and several teeth knocked out, fractured or displaced. Klayton Ramsay, 19, of Charles Road, Amble, admitted causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) and was spared prison.
Attack in Amble pub
The victim was socialising with friends and ended up in a pub in Amble around 5pm. He was playing pool with friends and his next recollection is waking up in hospital, a court heard. He had been struck in the face with a pool cue by Ramsay, who then claimed the victim had been picking on him.
Omar Ahmad, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "The complainant had been assaulted by the defendant, which was witnessed by a member of bar staff who was looking towards the pool table. They saw the defendant approach him holding a pool cue which he lifted and struck the complainant to the face."
Victim's injuries
While being escorted out, Ramsay said: "He has been picking on me all day." Mr Ahmad said: "The witness said it didn't warrant putting a pool cue across the face of the complainant."
The victim said he is aware of Ramsay from living in the same area but has had no issues with him in the past and couldn't remember seeing him that day. He suffered lacerations to both lips, which were sutured, and several teeth were knocked out, displaced or fractured, requiring medical intervention. He has been left with scarring and long-term implications for his dental health.
In a victim impact statement, he said: "On New Year's Day I was the victim of an unprovoked and violent assault. I was struck in the face with a pool cue without warning. It's had a significant impact on my life. I sustained serious facial injuries, causing pain, swelling and ongoing discomfort."
Court sentencing
He added that the injuries to his face affected his confidence and emotional wellbeing, and he no longer feels the sense of safety he did before the attack. He was also unable to work for a time and lost out financially.
Ramsay, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to causing GBH. Prosecutors decided not to proceed with a more serious allegation of GBH with intent. Recorder Tony Hawks told him: "You were lucky the prosecution didn't proceed with the more serious charge, otherwise you would be going to prison for about four years."
He added: "I don't know what came over you. You were obviously drunk as, probably, everyone else was in a public house, but you got a pool cue and hit a man in the face with it. Whatever passed between you, it could not justify that sort of behaviour. You are lucky you didn't cause more serious injuries."
Penny Hall, defending, said there had been "comments between them" and Ramsay perceived there to have been aggression from the victim, but he accepts that may not have been the case. She added: "The complainant had a glass in his hand and the defendant perceived the situation wrongly. He is a man who has never had a fight in his life." Miss Hall said Ramsay is working full time as a paver.
