Man jailed after blinding alcoholic with single punch
A MAN has been jailed for three years after he blinded an alcoholic in one eye with a single punch.
Anthony Birks, aged 21, attacked Matthew Reeves as he walked home in Meir on the evening of October 21, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard yesterday.
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Anthony Birks
Prosecutor Heather Chamberlin said Mr Reeves, aged 28, left a friend’s house at 9pm and the next thing he remembers is waking up in hospital with severe injuries.
But a police officer and a civilian witness saw the defendant with other men in Sandon Road, Meir, near its junction with Penfleet Avenue.
“The other men left and the witnesses saw the defendant talking aggressively to Mr Reeves which culminated in a punch to his right eye,” said Miss Chamberlin.
“The civilian witness heard a popping sound as the blow was struck. Mr Reeves fell to the floor and the witness heard a thud as he struck the ground.”
Mr Reeves got to his feet and began to stagger around. Birks ran away, but was quickly detained by police who witnessed the attack.
On arrest, Birks said: “What have I done?”
Mr Reeves was taken to hospital with a fractured eye socket, cheekbone and jaw. He also suffered cuts to his eyelid and eye. He had two operations on consecutive days in November.
The court heard he has lost his sight in his right eye and is waiting for a false eye to be fitted.
He has been left anxious at night-time and suffers headaches and jaw-ache.
Birks, of Harrowby Road, Meir, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm and failing to surrender at court on January 30.
Hamish Noble, mitigating, said Birks has a lengthy criminal record, but nothing for violence and nothing as significant.
Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said the offence was aggravated because it happened at night, when Birks had been drinking, just four weeks since he was released on licence from a previous custodial sentence and because of the ongoing affect on the victim.
The judge said: “It was very short-lived. There was no cause for you to follow the complainant and punch him as you were seen to.
“It was clearly a mighty punch, it certainly had very serious consequences.
“Apart from the initial pain and fracture to the eye, eyelid and the jaw and the resulting operations that were required to try and restore the fractures, together with the insertion of metal plates, it has led to the loss of one eye.”
But Judge Trevor-Jones said it was a single blow and the degree of injury was not intended. And although Birks’s record was “very poor”, this was his first conviction for violence.
27 Comments
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by Backdoored
Friday, February 17 2012, 6:23PM
“Go on Gary lad, -You're another step closer to that MBE I mentioned you deserved, -for service rendered to the underdog -even though they sometimes fall short of what every mother would like their sons to become.
Put the 'visitor passes' on E-bay -there's sure to be a heavy demand.”
by Backdoored
Friday, February 17 2012, 6:18PM
“(Sentinel Report)- ''Hamish Noble, mitigating, said Birks has a lengthy criminal record, but nothing for violence and nothing as significant''.
He has now. (What will the mitigation be next time around I wonder? Cos' there will be a next time)... -some people take longer than others to learn a lesson.”
by piigpengary
Friday, February 17 2012, 4:27PM
“Ant is a good lad he allways come up burton stores and got blind drunk many a days, he wud *** at 10am and leave late afternoon in a right state n e dint bother anyone so lay off him e had a bad past”
by truestokie
Friday, February 17 2012, 4:01PM
“Birch him and I can guarantee he will not be so quick to use his fists again.
Prison is no hardship today, and lessons need to be learn't before other innocent people are hurt.
It is a fact that more than once "one punch" has killed people before now.”
by anonfromstoke
Friday, February 17 2012, 2:56PM
“look at is photograph , poor little chap's had a good cry , bless him , i agree with wozzer 101 the little wonker.”
by Johntoe
Friday, February 17 2012, 1:54PM
“ERM...... Why do we need to know that the victim is an "alcoholic"?? Does it have any relevance to the case at all?
ALL unprovoked acts of violence by anyone, against anyone should carry a mandatory prison term.”
by ashleykorn
Friday, February 17 2012, 1:14PM
“I know both of these lads! Firstly, Mathew is not a alcholic, he is like 90% of men out there that have a beer when they get back from work! Anthony is just like all the other young lads round meir " where i am from" Drunk and Stoned because they have no jobs and nothing to do! I was exactly the same and it took me 4 prison sentances to sort me out!! The sad thing is if Anthony does make a sucsess out of his life when hes released from prison he can and it will be like it never happend!! Matt has lost an eye and now suffers anxiety and confidence problems! Which will make it harder for him to move on!! In this situation Anthony wins!! Poor Matthew!!”
by johnwhite18
Thursday, February 16 2012, 6:36AM
“jailed for three years after he blinded an alcoholic in one eye he will be out in 50% of the three years the guy he hit gets a life term crime one law nil home win again”
by rugrat_95
Wednesday, February 15 2012, 11:05PM
“Just look at his mug shot.
He looks like a scared rabbit caught in a cars headlights.
Hard as they come in a gang.
****s himself when the law gets him.”
by vasbert
Wednesday, February 15 2012, 10:50PM
“"He has been left anxious at night-time and suffers headaches and jaw-ache"
The poor bloke has lost an eye!!!
I do hope that Harrowby Road doesn't become a place for revenge attacks.”