A 69-year-old pensioner has been given a suspended prison sentence after attacking an electrician from behind and pushing him down a stone staircase in a Redcar nightclub, leaving the victim with a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain.
John Barker pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court, where a judge branded him a "coward" for the unprovoked assault. The victim, who had met Barker for the first time hours earlier and had been drinking with him, was left unconscious at the bottom of the stairs in The Deck nightclub.
Attack Captured on CCTV
The court heard that the two men met on Friday, January 16, in a Wetherspoon's pub in the town, where the victim was drinking alone in his hi-vis work clothing. They began drinking together and later moved on to the nightclub, where prosecutor Jenny Haigh said they bought rounds.
In the early hours, CCTV footage showed the victim walking slowly towards the stairs. "The defendant approaches him from behind," Ms Haigh told the court. "The defendant shoves him with both hands to the victim's back, causing the man to fall down the stairs, where he was knocked unconscious."
Door staff kept Barker in their office while waiting for police to arrive. He told one member of staff: "Yeah, I pushed him," Ms Haigh said. "He seemed to think there was an argument about who was buying the round."
Victim's Injuries and Impact
The victim suffered a fracture to his skull, a small bleed on his brain, a closed and heavily bruised left eye, and a broken wrist. In a statement, the electrician said he "used to earn £1,700 a week" but has been unable to return to work because of his injuries. He now claims "£400 a week universal credit" and said he lost his job with Envision, where he was working on a project at Wilton Industrial site.
Barker has a previous conviction for the same offence dating back to 1977. His barrister, Tom Bennett, told the court that his client is "horrified by his behaviour."
Judge's Sentencing Remarks
Mr Bennett said Barker lives alone on a state pension in a rented house and cares for his grandson, which allows his son and his son's partner to go out to work. "Custody would clearly have an impact on their employment and on the child aswell," he said, asking the judge to consider a suspended sentence. "My submission is that Mr Barker would not have acted like that, were it not for the alcohol."
Judge Caroline Goodwin said Barker was "highly annoyed" at his victim and told him: "You decided to take your own redress with him. At your age you should have better control and better composure." She added: "The injured party had his back to you. He did not stand a chance," branding the pensioner "a coward" for his actions.
Barker left court with a two-year nine-month prison term, suspended for three years. He was ordered to complete an alcohol abstinence programme for the next 100 days and carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. "That man could have been killed," the judge continued. "He could have been lying dead at the bottom of the stairs."
