Stag night thugs devastated my family and ruined my wedding plans
A PROUD dad is pictured walking his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day.
A cherished moment in the life of any father and any family.
But for Gary Haysom, the day was extra special – and tinged with emotion. For it was an honour his family thought he wouldn’t be able to perform.
Five months earlier, Gary, now 61, was punched unconscious and left for dead during his future son-inlaw’s stag do in Manchester.
A court heard he suffered ‘catastrophic’ injuries during a brawl and hit his head on a pavement outside the Printworks.
Gary, a former builder, had gone to help his son, who had become involved in the disturbance in the early hours of Saturday, February 10, 2018.
In total, he spent 11 months in hospital and rehabilitation. His life will never be the same again.
Gary needed a metal plate inserting into his head and now has difficulty completing tasks like shopping, cooking and washing, Manchester Crown Court was told.
His daughter, Amie, who heard the news as she celebrated her hen party in Bristol with friends, was due to get married in the March.
The wedding was postponed until July as Gary, from Somerset, battled for his life in a coma.
But after months of treatment and surgery, he was allowed out of hospital for the day and using a walking aid, he gave Amie away.
The family have spoken of how the attack changed all their lives after three men were convicted and sentenced at Manchester Crown Court.
Nicholas Loftus, 29, of Floyd Avenue, Chorlton, who the court heard served in the Army until he was medically discharged, threw the punch.
Proud Gary uses a stick as he walks daughter Amie down the aisle after, left, fighting for his life in hospital
He was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and affray.
Sofian Bouskouchi, 28, and Deniro Collins, 29, who were with Loftus, were also involved in the incident on Dantzic Street.
Bouskouchi, of Clarendon Road West, Chorlton, was jailed for 12 months after admitting affray and possessing an offensive weapon.
Collins, of Russell Avenue, Whalley Range, received a 12-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, after admitting affray.
He was also ordered to observe a six-month curfew from 9pm to 6am and complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
An image of Gary fighting for life in hospital was released by police and his family at the time in what was a high-profile investigation.
In the wedding pictures, Gary is seen walking Amie, now 28, down the aisle with a walking stick to her now husband Munya.
Amie, from Dorset, said of the wedding: “It was a great day. People obviously knew what had happened and it was a bit overwhelming – but dad did it. His speech was hilarious.”
Amie said the attack had changed her dad’s ‘whole life’ and criticised the sentences passed on Loftus, Bouskouchi and Collins as not long enough. She said: “I don’t know whether the court realised how
My dad has a worse sentence than they have got Daughter Amie
severe this has been. Everything, overnight – gone. He is still not a very well man. He spent 11 months in rehabilitation and hospital. “We got him to a point where he could use a wheelchair, but he’s never fully recovered walking-wise. They had to replace parts of his skull and he is going to have swelling that goes up and down. He has not got very much memory and has carers every day. He still cannot raise his left side. It has changed his whole life. Now he just sits in a semi-supported flat and cannot even look after his dogs.” Amie said the family are angry at the sentences the attackers got. She added: “We are really upset. They do not reflect the crime. My dad has a worse sentence than they have got. His life has been completely destroyed.”