Drunk thug left a ‘trail of destruction’
A‘COWARDLY’ drunken thug kicked a woman unconscious and broke a man’s jaw in two places as he ‘left a trail of destruction’ assaulting three separate victims in an early hours rampage in Runcorn town centre.
Aiden Parker, 24, was branded ‘cowardly’ by Judge Patrick Thompson at Chester Crown Court on Monday after prosecutor Jayne Morris had revealed the horrific details of the incident.
Parker, of Victoria Road, had become involved in an argument with a woman, India Shillito, outside Alchemy live music bar shortly after 2am on June 2 this year, and after a brief struggle with her, she fell to the ground.
Raging Parker began ‘bouncing’ round with a ‘crazy’ look on his face, and after throwing a wild punch aimed at one man, missed and struck another woman, Natalie Pluger, in the chest, leaving her winded and fearing she may have suffered broken ribs.
Parker soon struck out again, this time punching bystander Kyle Roberts, who was not even looking and whose jaw was now broken in two places.
Miss Morris told the court how he felt a ‘crack’ and ‘pain’ in his jaw as the ‘heavy blow’ landed.
Door staff made some efforts to move Parker away, but he then ran to where India Shillito was lying in the street and kicked her in the face.
In her victim personal statement, she said the next thing she remembered was being in Warrington Hospital asking for her dad.
At Parker’s sentencing on Monday, CCTV of the incident was shown to the court.
Watching the footage, Judge Patrick Thompson said: “Kicking a woman on the ground, I can’t imagine anything more cowardly for a human being, apart from maybe a child.
“I can see him bouncing round there like some kind of hard man.
“He’s the opposite of a hard man, then he’s punched a man who’s looking away.”
Miss Morris said none of the victims have wanted to go out in Runcorn town centre since the attack.
Mr Roberts suffered lost earnings of £800, and spent the first three weeks having to sleep seated because of the pain caused by the pressure of lying down.
He had multiple plates inserted to fix his jaw in place and lost the feeling in his lower lip due the nerve being damaged during surgery.
He was also unable to eat solid food for four weeks.
Mr Roberts said he had also missed out on spending time with his children and called this the ‘most difficult part’ of his ordeal.
Miss Shillito had to undergo extensive dental treatment and fears she could lose one or more teeth.
A scan also revealed her septum had been ‘deviated’ by the blow, and had to leave early when she returned to work due to her nose bleeding.
She estimated that she lost about £1,200 in earnings, and makes short trips to the shops now due to fear she might
● encounter the defendant.
Miss Pluger had suffered swelling and bruising, and had lost £1,500 in earnings through time off work.
The court heard Parker had a previous conviction for battery, and cautions including for assault.
Jeremy Rawson, defending, said Parker had made admissions in interview with police, references had been provided attesting to his character, and had shown remorse.
He said: “When he watched the CCTV with me in conference, he blanched.
“He was horrified and remains horrified.”
Mr Rawson asked for his client’s guilty pleas to be considered.
His suggestion of a suspended sentence was swiftly rebuffed as not serving justice.
Referring to Miss Shillito’s injuries, Judge Thompson said: “She’s had to have root canal surgery and the problem came out of what I can only describe as a brutal, extreme, cowardly violence and I’m afraid it’s not going to be tolerated.”
Parker had pleaded guilty on November 12 to Section 20 assault grievous bodily harm in relation to the assault on Mr Roberts, inflicting actual bodily harm on India Shillito, and common assault against Natalie Pluger.
Judge Thompson sentenced ‘thuggish’ Parker to two years in prison.
Sending Parker down, the judge said: “Your behaviour could only be described as incredibly violent and some of the worst violence I’ve had to view in many years as a judge and at the bar.
“You were bouncing round and were determined to inflict as much violence as you could on anyone who got in your path.
“In respect of India Shillito, you kicked her when was prone on the ground.
“It’s hard to imagine a more cowardly act than a man kicking a woman.”
He added: “It happened in front of all those people. It must have been terrifying.
“You were under the influence of alcohol.
“The public are sick and tired of young men like you who take too much alcohol and inflict violence on people in the town centre.
“I’m afraid it won’t be tolerated.” Parker will also have to pay a victim surcharge.