Father hit while helping peacemaker son who was knocked out
THE devastating attack on Gary Haysom happened after his son, Shaun, was also knocked unconscious, Manchester Crown Court heard.
The stag party of nine travelled up to the city from Somerset and had planned a Saturday night out followed by paintballing the next day.
After a meal they went to bars near the Printworks, prosecutor Henry Blackshaw said. At about 2am, two other men unrelated to the stag party or the defendants began fighting on Dantzic Street, the court heard.
Defendants Nicholas Loftus, Sofian Bouskouchi and Deniro Collins responded to the fighting, and at first tried to act as peacemakers, the court heard. It led to punches being thrown and pushing and shoving.
At one point Bouskouchi took a wrench from a rented white Mercedes the three had arrived in. Gary’s son then became involved to try to break up the brawl, but he ended up on the ground and was punched and kicked, leaving him unconscious.
Gary went to Shaun’s aid and Loftus punched him to the head with ‘considerable force’, Mr Blackshaw said. He landed on his back in the road and hit his head.
Loftus, Bouskouchi and Collins then left in a rented Mercedes which was parked nearby, leaving Gary seriously injured. Police were alerted by CCTV camera controllers. The trio were traced and arrested.
Gary, the court heard, suffered a ‘severe, traumatic brain injury’.
Loftus’ barrister, Rebecca Caulfield, said he was ‘profoundly sorry’.
Hugh Barton, defending Bouskouchi, said the incident was ‘out of character’.
Collins’ barrister, Sarah Johnston, said he was of previous good character and his mother would be affected if he was sent to prison, as he lives with her and cares for her.
Judge Alan Conrad QC, sentencing, said: “This was a shocking incident of group violence, involving a number of participants. It was in drink on the street, late at night. You may have started out as peacemakers, but you quickly went on the offensive.”