Man jailed after fracturing cheekbone in club attack
TWENTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD Adam Bridgwood has been jailed after he fractured a man's cheekbone and eye socket in an unprovoked assault.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday heard Bridgwood lulled Carl Brereton into a false sense of security before delivering a punch in Argo club, Newcastle, in the early hours of July 2 last year.
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And his friend, Michael Hall, threw punches at others in the club.
Prosecutor Neil Ahuja said Mr Brereton was out celebrating his father's 40th birthday.
"The victim was stood alone, holding a pint and not talking to anyone," said Mr Ahuja.
"Bridgwood began to speak to him. He (Bridgwood) then turned away and began to dance on his own.
"Hall had been waving his arms around to other people.
"Bridgwood turned and threw a punch which connected with the victim. Both defendants began throwing punches towards a number of other people before the bouncers intervened."
The court heard Mr Brereton went to hospital having sustained fractures to his eye socket and cheekbone. He had three plates inserted to build up his cheek.
Bridgwood, of Sutton Street, Chesterton, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Hall, aged 29, of Leycett Road, Scot Hay, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour.
Andrew Turnock, representing both defendants, said they were drunk and their recollections of the incident are vague.
But he said both expressed remorse and disgust at their behaviour after watching the CCTV footage.
Mr Turnock said Bridgwood, who has no previous convictions, was a not a violent young man.
"But for his level of intoxication, this incident would not have happened," said Mr Turnock.
He added: "The injury was sustained from a single blow, it was not a sustained attack, there was no kicking, no head-butting. A serious injury has followed from that single blow."
Mr Turnock said Hall, who also has no previous convictions, acted out of character, in a misguided sense of loyalty to Bridgford.
"He simply reacted to the explosion of violence by Bridgford."
Recorder Marcus Tregilgas-Davey jailed Bridgwood for 18 months and sentenced Hall to a 12-month community order with 100 hours' unpaid work.
He said: "The victim went out celebrating his father's 40th birthday. By the end of that evening he had a fracture to the left cheek, multiple fractures to his left eye socket and he required the insertion of three metal plates."
Recorder Tregilgas-Davey told Bridgford: "I have seen the CCTV. There is absolutely no doubt it was a totally unprovoked and violent assault by you.
"It also seems to me, you lulled your victim into a false sense of security by dancing for about four seconds, you then turned and moved towards him, took aim and delivered the blow that felled him."
The judge added: "There were no threats to either of you from Mr Brereton. You were both so drunk you had no recollection of what had been said and done."
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by MusicHallFan
Thursday, March 01 2012, 6:07PM
“He was not a violent person - says his defence. What the hell was this assault about then? He wasn't just "fighting his corner" he just attacked a bystander - that makes him a thug, drunk or sober. Sentence not long enough.”
by therockyslope
Thursday, March 01 2012, 5:04PM
“all that damage in a unprovoked attack, & he has to spend 9 months in jail! thats disgusting the judge you should hold your head in shame aswell,, what a pair of numpty's, IF YOU CAN'T TAKE BEER DON'T DRINK IT! IDIOTS”
by Wozzer101
Wednesday, February 29 2012, 10:28AM
“@leglessharry, utter rubbish, what do you want the justice system do to him for violent actions such as this, if he only did it because he was drunk, its a very good case for him not drinking as much as he did. Personally, I would have give him more time, ensuring the safety of the members of the public who wish to go out and have a drink, without being punched in the face by a drunk. If you are looking for respect for being in the Army as well, sorry, you will not get it from me, son. Me view is you joined up of you own accord, and took payment for the time you spent in the service. It don't give you the right to protect violent drunks. By the way, I was a nurse for many years, but I don't ask any respect being given for that, but it gives me some right to stand up for people who have been assaulted, I patched some of them up and witnessed the damage that was done to them.”
by E_D_Wivens
Wednesday, February 29 2012, 10:15AM
“It don't work" - I'd say that it does, it keeps the scr0tes away from the rest of us.
"Them lads should have been thrashed until the whites of their spines were showing through. Thrashed with a birch until the lesson took root." - well there I agree with you, but unfortunately the bleeding hearts. do-gooders and lefties would never allow it anymore. So what sanctions are we left with for miscreants?
"You might need them lads one day the way things are going." - somehow I doubt it, H. I wouldn't rely on this pair if my life depended on it.
"At least them lads went out into the world and threw their punches." - what's your point here, H? They picked on another lad on his own so they could have a bit of drunken violence at his expense. He wasn't bothering them. So they weren't bravely venturing out into the world with their fists, they were acting like feral cowards and lowlife. Think you're on the wrong tack there fella, you need to come hard about.
"I think folk like you who put all this tripe and poison on here should find summat to do with yourself." - well one could argue, what are you doing exactly?
"I thought I'd come on here and have a good debate with decent people. But it's just like a bloody schoolyard full of cretins and morons." - gee thanks. By the way, welcome to the interwebs. These forums are mild, compared to many.
"you've never fought in a war and we''d all best hope you're never called upon to do so because you haven't got the backbone for the job, son." - hardly fair, most people haven't. I have though. Didn't like it much. Cold, wet, miserable and trying vainly to hit Argie jets with a popgun.
"You and your sort just throw yours from behind a computer screen." - such is the world nowadays. You would prefer what exactly? Bare-knuckle prize fights? Pistols at dawn? Well I can see the appeal but it ain't gonna happen. Besides, stick and stones, H; mere words can't hurt anyone.
Wozzer is one of the better contributors on here, well apart from his spelling which is atrocious. And he's usually very accurate in his assessment of people.”
by leglessharry
Tuesday, February 28 2012, 9:06PM
“I've never met you Wozzer101 but I know one thing for sure - you've never fought in a war and we''d all best hope you're never called upon to do so because you haven't got the backbone for the job, son. There's more spine in a maggot. At least them lads went out into the world and threw their punches. You and your sort just throw yours from behind a computer screen. Judging and condeming people you never knew and never met and know nowt about.
I fought for this country and I should be allowed to say my piece about what I think without being called a fool.
I know that lad had plates put in. I don't condone it. I don't agree with it. My point is this: them lads shouldn't be in prision. It don't work. And it costs too much money (some of which could be going to a better pension for people like me). Them lads should have been thrashed until the whites of their spines were showing through. Thrashed with a birch until the lesson took root. Then send them on their way. It were a mistake. Stupidity. But they shouldn't be in prision. You might need them lads one day the way things are going.
A fool I might be but I'm an honest fool. I think folk like you who put all this tripe and poison on here should find summat to do with yourself. I thought I'd come on here and have a good debate with decent people. But it's just like a bloody schoolyard full of cretins and morons.
What a waste of time.”
by Wozzer101
Tuesday, February 28 2012, 7:18PM
“Sending people to prison for nowt. Can you not understand, he hit another human being with such force, they needed to insert plates in his face, reason, 'Sorry, I was drunk and I won't do it again.' Come on Legless, you sound like a fool, but Jesus, you don't need to prove it on every post.”
by E_D_Wivens
Tuesday, February 28 2012, 7:14PM
“are interfering with folk in a public bog"
Is it just me who finds the whole turn of this conversation hilariously funny! I laughed so much at this that my tea started coming down my nose...”
by leglessharry
Tuesday, February 28 2012, 7:02PM
“Some folk on here need to get a grip of themselves and start talking sense. You're sending people to prison for nowt. It's no wonder the country has gone to the dogs with people like you lot crying like softies anytime things cut up a bit rough. How do you think we won a war back in the 40s? Not with the likes of you lot fighting it. That's for sure. Men were men back then. We didn't just send people to prision left right and centre. People toughed it out or bloody well fought it out. And we need more of it now. Englishsense, throw your abuse about if it makes you feel big and clever. But when men - lads who think they're hard because they've got no hair and support Vale - are interfering with folk in a public bog then there's summat wrong. I've never heard of football hooligans behaving like that before. You're probably one of them. You certainly seem to know exactly which bogs I was referring to without having to be prompted. How you spend your Saturday night is your business, son. But don't start bragging about it. You're just making yourself look ridiculous.”
by Alberus
Tuesday, February 28 2012, 5:56PM
“OUCH! I bet that bloody hurt.”
by Englishsense
Tuesday, February 28 2012, 4:38PM
“LeglessHarry have the VLF raped you in "Bozlem" toilets saturday night because your that much of a wrong'un I can imagin you hanging around park toilets. Mug.”