Thug gloated over vicious pub attack
A VIOLENT thug stamped on an unconscious man’s head, then bragged about what he had done as he re-enacted it.
David Morrison was drinking in a pub when he was approached by drunken Gregg Dodds and ordered to go outside.
As he walked down some stairs he was struck forcefully to the head, causing him to fall a considerable distance.
As he lay “out for the count”, he was then stamped on with two feet by Dodds, who used the banister to launch himself into the air and gain leverage. The brute then punched him until his son dragged him away.
HGV driver Dodds then went to another pub and re-enacted what he had done, boasting about how he had knocked the victim out with one punch.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the victim was having a drink in the Breakers Bar, in Bedlington, Northumberland, on September 13, 2019, when Dodds came in shouting aggressively “Who has been picking on my son.”
He approached Mr Morrison, who asked if he was talking to him and he replied “you know what I am talking about” and ordered him outside.
Penny Hall, prosecuting, said: “As he made his way down a concrete staircase, he was struck to the head by the defendant.
“It was a forceful blow and caused him to fall a considerable distance to the bottom of the stairs. His next recollection is waking up in hospital.
“The defendant launched himself in the air using the banister as leverage after the complainant had already been punched and landed at the bottom of the stairs.”
Mr Morrison was left with a broken collar bone, which needed surgery and a metal plate inserted, as well as cuts to his head and face which needed stitches.
Miss Hall said: “The Crown say that was a deliberate attempt to inflict really serious harm on him.
“Not content with having jumped on his head with both feet, he then proceeded to strike the then-prone and motionless Mr Morrison to the head with a series of punches before being dragged away by his son.
“The defendant bragged about his actions afterwards. He attended The Grapes pub almost immediately afterwards, where he reenacted it and was overhead saying it only took one punch to knock him out.”
Dodds, 43, of Whitsun Grove, Bedlington, pleaded guilty to inflicting GBH with intent and was jailed for five and a half years.
Tony Davis, defending, said Dodds was remorseful and contrite, adding: “He is disgusted with his own behaviour.
“Plainly he would not have committed the offence had he not been in drink. There appears to be some background to this.”