Man’s attack outside bar left reveller with a bleed on brain
But judge spares him jail sentence
AMAN has avoided a jail sentence after he attacked a reveller outside a bar in Rochdale.
James Schumann, 25, punched his victim twice, causing him to fall over and bang his head on the pavement outside a Yates bar on Packer Street.
His 20-year-old male victim had to be taken to hospital, and was found to be suffering a bleed on the brain following the attack in the early hours of March 10, 2018. Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard the victim’s brother and Schumann had become involved in a verbal altercation, before a fight broke out.
Schumann was heavily intoxicated through drink and drugs when he assaulted his victim, the court heard.
In a victim statement, the court was told that the assault has had a long-lasting effect on Schumann’s victim, both mentally and physically.
Prosecutor Lisa Boocock said: “The victim describes significant disruption to his daily life and has suffered indescribable physical pain.
“He had a 12cm wound and a bleed on the brain.
“He has had to attend various appointments to help with his healing and has had time off work.
“He has had to stop driving which has had a significant effect on his independence and he is worried about leaving the house for fear of violence.”
Schumann, of Huddersfield Road, Oldham, was jailed for nine months suspended for 12 months after admitting an offence of affray.
Defending, his lawyer,
Stuart Pollitt said: “The defendant accepts his involvement.
“It seems from the CCTV footage that a number of people might look back on their behaviour that night with a degree of shame.
“He accepts that it was done with a background of excessive alcohol and he admitted taking drugs.
“He is now living a wholly different life to the one he was living in 2018 and the Probation Service believe he is at a low risk of re-offending.”
Sentencing Schumann, Judge Bernadette Baxter said: “In licensed premises people drink too much. You know you are an unpleasant drunk and had drank too much.
“Comments are made and then physical punches and blows are exchanged.
“This happened in a confined space fuelled by alcohol and in licensed premises.
“The victim was hit twice by you and fell over receiving serious injuries to his head.
“He lives with the consequences of the injuries you inflicted.”
Schumann was also ordered to pay his victim £600 in compensation at a rate of £50 a month.