Drinker hit so hard he needed metal plates in his jaw
Man jailed for attack after victim started ‘winding up’ his partner
BUSINESSMAN Bradley Wilson struck a pub-goer with such force that he broke his jaw in three places and left him bed-ridden for a month.
The 24-year-old was on a night out at the Wheatsheaf, in Cheadle, with his girlfriend shortly after the end of the first lockdown.
As his partner stood outside the pub, she became involved in an altercation with a 21-yearold drunken student who was ‘winding her up.’
Stoke-on-trent Crown Court heard that Wilson retaliated by throwing a single punch, which struck the man’s left cheek.
Friends went to the aid of the victim, who was also helped by the pub manager. Following the attack, he had to spend three days in hospital and have metal plates fitted to his jaw.
Now Wilson, of Sheldrake Grove, Adderley Green, has admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm, and has been jailed for 12 months.
Jaspreet Dhalival, prosecuting, said the incident happened on July 11 last year.
The man who was assaulted had gone outside to ring his dad for a lift home. While outdoors, he encountered Wilson’s girlfriend.
“He recalled being sarcastic to the female, but not aggressive,” said Mr Dhalival. “The next thing he knew, a male’s face was in front of him.
“He immediately felt a punch to his left cheek. It was described as being full force and a single blow.
“He stumbled and believed he perhaps briefly blacked out. His jaw was dislocated, with blood coming from his mouth.”
The court was told the victim has since been plagued by flashbacks. He has also struggled to brush his teeth and chew food due to his jaw injuries.
Paul Cliff, mitigating, said Wilson had acted out of ‘an excess of misguided loyalty’ that night. He claimed the man had used unpleasant words towards his long-term partner.
Wilson, who ironically had chosen the night out in Cheadle as he thought there would be less trouble than in Hanley, now rarely goes out socially.
Mr Cliff added: “He is hardworking. He is concerned with the installation of broadband equipment and has set up a business with his brother.
“He has worked throughout the pandemic. He is wellregarded.”
Wilson has four previous convictions, including one for assault occasioning actual bodily harm for which he received a suspended sentence. He was in breach of that court order when he committed the latest offence.
Judge Paul Glenn told Wilson: “You could have walked away Instead, you chose to confront the man and assault him.”