Jail term for stomping on man’s head

A man convicted of kicking, punching and stomping on a former friend’s head following an altercation in downtown Niagara Falls will spend the next two years behind bars.

Court heard the August 2018 incident left the victim in critical condition.

The Niagara Falls man was airlifted to a Hamilton hospital where he was treated for multiple injuries including facial and spinal fractures.

Lee Barlow, who pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated assault, was sentenced earlier this month in Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines. In addition to the jail term, the 45year-old was placed on probation for three years.

Niagara Regional Police were called to a Crysler Avenue residence during the early morning hours of Aug. 26 and found an unconscious male bleeding profusely from his head.

Barlow was observed standing over the victim, trying to wake him up.

An investigation revealed two men, who were known to each other, had engaged in a physical altercation after consuming alcohol.

Video cameras from a nearby apartment complex captured the violent and disturbing attack. The victim was dragged from his vehicle by the defendant, thrown onto the pavement and then kicked and punched in the head.

Judge Joseph De Filippis said the victim was kicked “soccerstyle” several times, followed by a stomp and multiple punches.

In a victim impact statement, the victim said he is in constant pain and suffers from severe headaches. He has trouble remembering things and, sometimes is barely able to complete routine daily activities.

The victim’s mother told court she doesn’t know if her son will ever be the same after he was “so cowardly beaten unconscious.”

“I will never forget the day when I was told I may never see my son alive again … my heart almost stopped,” she said.

Barlow told court he accepts responsibility for his actions and said what happened that day is not a reflection of his true character. He suggested the victim provoked him and posed a threat to his family.