Yob knocked man out in row over loud music
AYOB punched a man unconscious and left him with amnesia following a dispute over loud music. Matthew Simpson, 37, thumped his victim in the face during the row, a court heard.
The man was knocked over by the force of the blow and hit his head on a parked car.
He was left unconscious and spent a month in hospital with skull fractures and a bleed on the brain, the hearing was told.
The victim now suffers from anxiety and memory problems – and at first did not recognise his own boss when he went back to work, the court was told.
Simpson, from Offerton, later saw a psychiatrist, who said he suffered from a ‘social phobia with a panic disorder’. The NHS says it is a long-lasting and overwhelming fear of ‘social situations’.
The court earlier heard that the incident happened in December 2016 after Simpson had repeatedly clashed with a man over noise.
AYOB who punched a man unconscious and left him with amnesia following a dispute over loud music is terrified of social situations – and has a ‘panic disorder’ – a court heard.
Matthew Simpson, 37, thumped his victim in the face during a row over the man’s friend playing loud music.
The man was knocked over by the force of the blow and hit his head on a parked car.
He was left unconscious and spent a month in hospital with skull fractures and a bleed on the brain, a court heard.
The victim now suffers from anxiety and memory problems – and at first did not recognise his own boss when he went back to work, the court was told.
Simpson, from Offerton, later saw a psychiatrist, who said he suffered from a ‘social phobia with a panic disorder’.
The NHS says it is a long-lasting and overwhelming fear of ‘social situations’.
At Minshull Street Crown Court, Simpson admitted causing grievous bodily harm.
He was sentenced to a suspended jail term after a judge said the contents of the psychiatric report meant he could be ‘rehabilitated.’
The court earlier heard that the incident happened December 2016 after Simpson had repeatedly clashed with a man over noise.
Prosecuting, Simon Barratt, said: “It’s accepted that numerous complaints were made by them to the police.”
The victim knew the neighbour and was visiting on the day.
“They were playing music and the defendant, who had been drinking, became angry and started banging on the door,” said Mr Barratt.
“[The victim] tried to calm the defendant down, but the defendant then punched him in the face.
“He fell backwards and hit his head on a car and fell unconscious.
“The defendant then went back in his flat and called the police and told them [the victim] has assaulted him.
“The complainant sustained serious injuries and he was taken to hospital. He suffered skull fractures and bruises and bleeding on his brain.
“He was confused and unable to co-operate and was diagnosed with posttraumatic amnesia.’’
In a victim impact statement, the victim said: “I suffer from memory problems, I didn’t even recognise my manager or my place of work at first.
“I suffer with anxiety and I am frightened of my surroundings and what might happen to me. I suffer flashbacks to the incident which affects my sleep, and I am on medication for this.”
Louise Cowen, defending Simpson, said: “This is a serious offence, but it could have been more serious.
“He accepts that he was responsible and that he caused the terrible injuries to the victim.
“He is truly sorry that he caused these injuries and he has expressed his remorse. A psychiatric report has been done and he has been registered as having a social phobia with a panic disorder.
“I submit that this mental health issue puts him into the lower culpability.”
Sentencing Simpson to a two-year jail term suspended for two years, Judge Bernadette Baxter said: “You were involved in a long-running dispute with your neighbour, of which you were as much an active part, and you lost your temper because they were playing their music too loudly.
“Many would say that you deserve to go to custody, but those people would not have read the psychiatric report.
“I think there is a real basis that you can be rehabilitated.”
Simpson was also issued with an indefinite restraining order.