A man who knocked his friend unconscious outside a pub and then continued to punch him as he lay in the road has been jailed. Liam Chichester, 30, of Gateholm Close, Barry, was sentenced at Newport Crown Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to wounding and inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Attack outside Barry pub
The attack took place on July 17 outside the Master Mariner pub in Barry. Chichester had been asked to leave the pub because of his aggressive behaviour. The pub owner described Chichester as a "bigger and stronger" man than his victim, Dean Thomas, who had said he would go after Chichester because he was his "mate".
CCTV footage shown in court captured the confrontation. Mr Thomas was knocked to the floor, got back up, and was chased by Chichester, who knocked him down a second time, causing him to lose consciousness. Despite the victim being out cold, the defendant delivered three or four further punches to his head. The footage showed Chichester making a crude attempt to drag Mr Thomas out of the road, but he left him near the curb and walked off.
Victim's injuries
Police were called, and Mr Thomas was found unconscious in the road with laboured breathing. CPR was administered, and he was taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. He had suffered multiple injuries, including a 3cm wound to his chin, bleeding to the right side of his brain, air to the right side of his skull, three fractures to his skull, fluid in his ear cavity, blood between his ear and scalp, a displaced right cheek fracture, a broken nose, a displaced fracture to his jaw, a bruised lung, blood in his lung and chest cavity, multiple rib fractures, air in soft tissue between his chest and armpit, and a displaced fracture to his vertebrae.
Prosecutor James Evans said the victim was in critical care on a ventilator and spent 10 days in hospital before being discharged. Mr Thomas said he had no recollection of the events that evening and no memory of seeing the defendant that night, describing Chichester as a friend of 10 years.
Sentencing
Chichester was arrested and answered "no comment" in interview. He has 24 previous convictions, including 11 for assault. In mitigation, Adam Sharp said his client had been diagnosed with ADHD at six years old. The barrister conceded the actions amounted to a "vicious display of violence".
Sentencing, Judge David Wynn Morgan said: "This was an appalling attack. It may not have lasted particularly long but you're a much bigger man than your victim and it wouldn't have taken long for you to inflict those injuries upon him. You left him in a carriageway."
Chichester was found to be a dangerous offender and was sentenced to 64 months imprisonment with an extended licence period of three years.
