£72k-a-year boss fractured stranger’s skull in pub
DAD SPARED JAIL FOR ‘SENSELESS PIECE OF VIOLENCE’
A COMPANY director who left a stranger scarred for life after he attacked him in a pub at random has been freed by a judge who told him: “Next time you’re out drinking don’t drink as much.”
Powerfully-built Stuart Dylan Ollerenshaw, 28, punched Damon Tait with such savagery the blow fractured the victim’s skull and cheekbone and left him with a bleed on the brain.
Mr Tait was kept in hospital for four days and had an operation to realign the bones on the left side of his face. He now has permanent facial scarring as a result of the injury.
Inquiries revealed Ollerenshaw, from Sale, who is known as Dylan and who earns up to £72,000 a year working in the construction industry, had thumped Mr Tait for ‘winding up’ one of the victim’s own friends.
Mr Tait said: “I initially wanted this male to go to prison but I have learned he has children. I just want him to learn he cannot attack people like he did for no reason.”
At Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, dad-of-two Ollerenshaw admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm but was handed 12 months’ jail suspended for two years. He will also have to pay Mr Tait £1,000 in compensation.
Sentencing, Judge Paul Lawton told him: “It is the most senseless piece of violence I have heard about for a long time. I have no idea why you chose to punch him, you’re a physically big man you punched him with significant force he had a subdural hematoma.
“He has been left with permanent scarring and psychological issues and why you chose to hit him is a mystery to me. If I thought for one minute you had hit him to cause that injury you would be going straight down the stairs to Strangeways prison. But you are the sole carer for your father and you have come a whisker away from that.
“Next time you’re out drinking don’t drink as much and just think about what is hanging over your head.”
The court heard the incident occurred on August 12 at an unnamed bar in Sale. Prosecutor Lisa Boocock said: “Mr Tait had consumed a significant quantity of alcohol with his friend called Josh who hasn’t provided a statement.
“The complainant had spent most of his time standing at a table at which others are stood whilst Josh was seated.
“The complainant was winding up Josh fairly consistently for a number of minutes and Josh makes it quite clear he is frustrated with the complainant’s behaviour – but unfortunately for Mr Tait he doesn’t desist.
“Josh appears to lean over and speak with the defendant who until this point had been completely uninvolved in the interaction. The defendant then hit the left side of Mr Tait’s head.
“They hadn’t met each other before this evening and hadn’t had any interaction before this takes place. Josh helped Mr Tait out of the public house and the complainant went home.
“He woke up the next morning, went to work, felt absolutely dreadful and went to hospital. He had a subdural hematoma which was treated. It was also found that he had an undisplaced fracture in the skull and a fracture to the left cheek bone. Mr Tait’s wife was pregnant and she has since given birth to their child.
“Mr Tait says that he was worried about his job, he had an operation, had painkillers for two weeks, off work for a period of time.
“He lost earnings and had problems financially, was constantly thinking about what happened and had headaches for three months after. Left with permanent facial scarring he is selfconscious, believing others that don’t know him would think him a thug.”
Ollerenshaw was later interviewed by police but said he had acted in selfdefence, implying he was the person ‘being bothered,’ adding he ‘felt threatened and struck out.’
Adrian Palmer, defending, said: “His initial belief was that he thought the victim had approached him from the rear. He earns significant amounts of money he tells me, £1,500 per week, he is a hard-working young man who has tried to do the best he can for himself.”