Man ‘hunted’ victim in town
A MAN hunted a fellow nightclubber through the streets of a town and battered him after an altercation outside a bar.
He was filmed scouring Bridgend for his victim after they were involved in a scuffle at the Eden Bar on Market Street.
A MAN hunted a fellow nightclubber through the streets of a town and battered him after an altercation outside a bar.
Adam Manns was filmed scouring Bridgend town centre for his victim after the two were involved in a scuffle at the Eden Bar on Market Street in the early hours of the morning.
The 33-year-old approached Dale Bessant while his back was turned outside a takeaway, hit him and continued to punch and stamp on his face while he was on the floor.
Nearby door security and pub-goers had to rush to restrain Manns before police arrived to arrest him.
Prosecutor Timothy Evans told Newport Crown Court last week that Manns and Mr Bessant are known to each other, but were out separately in Bridgend in the early hours of October 20 last year.
Mr Evans said the pair were involved in an “altercation outside the doorway” of the Eden Bar.
The court was told that the defendant lowered the peak of Mr Bessant’s hat repeatedly, and Mr Bessant struck him in the face in retaliation, after which they left the area in opposite directions.
“The prosecution suggest the defendant searched the town centre for Mr Bessant, found him and attacked him outside a nearby takeaway premises without warning,” Mr Evans said.
The court was shown CCTV footage of Manns speaking with door security outside another club.
He said the bouncer said Manns asked him if he had seen a man matching Mr Bessant’s description.
Another clip showed Mr Bessant stood outside the takeaway before Manns approached him from across the street while his back was turned.
In footage shown to the court, he punches Mr Bessant and the attack is seen to continue out of frame.
A video from another angle shows Manns punch Mr Bessant to the floor, and continue punching him and stamping on his face.
Mr Evans said Mr Bessant did not get back up and was taken to hospital by ambulance.
The prosecutor told the court of the injuries Mr Bessant sustained: “He has a fractured nose, fractures to a finger, he had bruising to his face. He is described in one statement as having cuts to his mouth.”
Mr Evans said Mr Bessant was also diagnosed with a concussion.
Rhodri Chudleigh, defending, said his client deserved full credit for his early guilty plea.
Mr Chudleigh said Manns recognised the consequences of his actions could have been far more serious, and he accepts that there was no justification for his actions.
He said Manns had been suffering with depression at the time of the incident, and a family member had died in tragic circumstances a few months previously.
He added that Manns had expressed remorse for his actions.
Manns, of Pyle Inn Way, Pyle, Bridgend, pleaded guilty to a single charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent at an earlier hearing.
Sentencing, Judge Richard Williams said Manns’ behaviour was “calculated if not coldblooded”.
“You stamped forcefully on his head,” he said. “That action was intended to cause serious injury.”
Judge Williams sentenced Mann to four years and eight months in prison.
He will serve at least half of his sentence in custody before being released on licence.
A victim surcharge will also be drawn up.