Man denies assault which left victim fighting for life
A man has appeared in court after a violent assault at a Sunderland retail park left a victim fighting for his life.
Shaun Harrison, 44, of Grange Road, Sunderland, appeared before magistrates in South Tyneside yesterday, charged with unlawful wounding.
The charge relates to an incident outside Greggs at the
Hylton Riverside Retail Park around 8.05am on Tuesday morning, in which a man suffered serious injuries.
Harrison pleaded not guilty to the offence and is now due to appear at Newcastle Crown Court on September 30.
It was reported that, following a disagreement in the street, an offender had punched another male in the face.
The victim suffered a suspected fractured skull in the attackandwastakentohospital,whereheremainsinacritical but stable condition. The man’s family have been notified and are being supported by specialist officers.
After throwing a single punch and knocking the victimtotheground,theoffender leftthesceneoffinablueAudi A3.
Detectives said that they had been carrying out a number of enquiries and had arrested a 44-year-old man on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Nowofficershaverepeated anappealforinformationand asked anyone who was in the area at the time or saw the car immediatelyafterwardstoget in touch.
Detective Chief Inspector SeanMcguigan,whoisleading the investigation, said: “This wasaviolentincidentthathas left a man in his 20s fighting for his life.
“Wearecommittedtofindingoutthecircumstancessurrounding this assault, which webelievefollowedaverbalaltercationinthestreetbetween the offender and victim.
“The car had a broken rear window and travelled from the retail park on the A1231 Wessington Way towards the Castletown area immediately after.
“From our enquiries, we understand a number of people were in the area and will have witnessed the assault outside Greggs and I am today appealing for those individuals to come forward with any information they have.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101.