Shirtless thug beat neighbour with weight
A DRUNKEN lout attacked a man with a weight set before police had to use a spit guard to protect themselves at the height of lockdown.
Peter Finnagan, 37, also racially abused an officer as he continued to behave aggressively towards police.
CCTV from the block of flats in Wythenshawe showed Finnegan topless and smeared with blood, with him and his victim both barely able to stand after they both had drunk a ‘very large quantity of alcohol indeed.’
Manchester Crown Court heard that the Finnagan lived in the same block of flats as the victim.
Finnagan had joined him and another man for an afternoon drinking session on April 7, on the third week of lockdown.
None of the three men can recall what caused the argument, but a ‘drunken quarrel’ ensued in the victim’s flat, prosecutor Bob Elias said.
Finnagan then used an improvised weapon, a weight that was part of a weightlifting set, and was being used as a door stop. He hit the man over the head with it, causing a ‘significant’ cut.
The man also suffered a fractured finger and a suspected broken nose.
The incident spilled out into the communal hallway, where CCTV recorded Finnagan and the victim drunkenly staggering around, with the defendant topless and with blood on his chest. Prosecutors said it was ‘fortunate’ that the man wasn’t more seriously hurt.
“This could have been so much more serious for you,” Judge Richard Mansell QC told Finnagan.
Police were called and found Finnagan lying on the blood-stained floor outside the victim’s flat. The victim was inside, also covered in blood.
Finnagan became aggressive and had to be restrained with handcuffs and leg restraints. Police also put a spit guard on him, after he started spitting.
He made threats of violence to the officers, and called one a ‘f***ing P***.’
In interview, Finnagan said he didn’t remember much of the incident, and said he behaved that way because the officers had been ‘rough’ with him.
Judge Mansell said Finnagan had an ‘absolutely appalling’ criminal record.
His previous crimes included punching a security guard and calling him a ‘n ***** ,’ and making a racist comment to police officers.
Defending, Patrick Buckley said Finnagan is a ‘complex’ person who has a ‘myriad’ of issues. “He is quite a vulnerable person, albeit violent in drink,” Mr Buckley said.
Finnagan, Bideford Drive, Wythenshawe, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison. He pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, racially aggravated harassment and two counts of assaulting emergency workers.