AN Orford man has been jailed after a dispute following the Merseyside derby spiralled out of control and left the victim with permanent brain damage.
Robert James-Ward, of Cobden Street, punched Craig Turner outside the Trigger Pond pub, Liverpool Road, Great Sankey, in October last year causing a fractured skull and bruising to the brain.
Experts’ reports said Mr Turner would ‘probably be vulnerable for the rest of his life’ after the incident, Warrington Crown Court heard on Friday.
Sarah Badrawy, prosecuting, said: “The 28-year-old defendant, complainant and another man had been out drinking all day after the Everton v Liverpool game.
“The complainant was an Everton fan, the defendant supports Liverpool.”
‘Friendly banter’ about the game became ‘loud and argumentative’ later in the evening after all three had drunk ‘about 10 pints’.
Mr Turner was asked to leave by the assistant manager of the pub and made hand gestures towards the defendant and his friend in the pub’s car park.
James-Ward followed his friend out of the pub and punched Mr Turner causing him to fall to the floor, which was shown on CCTV footage.
Police officers said Mr Turner’s injuries were life-threatening while he lay motionless and breathing heavily before an ambulance arrived.
James-Ward remained at the scene and told police ‘I wish I had hit him harder’.
The defendant said he followed his friend to stop the pair from fighting but Mr Turner had ‘mouthed off at him’ and had been ‘winding him up all night’.
James-Ward had previous minor public order offences.
Gavin Tranter, defending, said: “It was a single blow and the defendant had no idea the level of injury it would cause.”
Letters from his employer where he works as a plasterer and someone he assisted through charitable work were also submitted. Judge Nicholas Woodward said: “It was a single blow but the results were catastrophic for him and you.
“You have left him with permanent brain damage and a permanent disability which will require lifetime support.”
James-Ward was sentenced to 21 months.
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