Wife tells court of horror holiday attack
A father and son who launched an unprovoked attack on a holidaymaker in a pub have both avoided prison.
Edward and Conner Smith were drinking at The Habour Inn, in Amble, Northumberland,beforetheyattackedtheir victim,whowasvisitingduring a holiday with his wife.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the husband had been chatting normally with Conner before trouble escalated without reason.
The couple, who weren't from the town, had been staying at a nearby caravan park but the court heard shouts of "Mackem ******* "wereissued during the attack.
Prosecutor Neill Pallister said: "On September 29, 2019, the complainant and his wife were in the Harbour Inn in Amble.
"At about 5:30pm the man became aware of the two defendants in the bar and he knew them as Eddie and his son Conner.
"He described how he recalls Conner Smith approached him and started to talk to him. He described how Conner shook his hand and they chatted about work.
"From his recollection, the man was able to recall Edward Smith and a male dressed in black come across to join in the conversation.
"The next thing he rememberswasEdwardSmithwasgoing to hit him.
"He recalls getting up after the first punch and ended up ontheflooragainwherehefelt kicks but he couldn't see who was kicking him."
Mr Pallister said that after the initial attack, Conner then ran back towards the commotion and joined in with the assault.
The court heard that the victim'swife,whohadmomentarilybeensatatanothertable, tried to jump on her husband to prevent him from further blows but sustained cuts from broken glass.
In a witness statement, she said she could hear the men shouting "get him out, he's a Mackem ******* ."
Mr Pallister added: "Her husband tried to come to help her.
"She then recalled seeing her husband on the floor being kicked by four males including these defendants and heard them shouting "******* do him in".
The court also heard a family had to leave the pub as their young daughter became distressed at what she had witnessed.
Thehusband,whosuffered bruising to his face including a 12cm linear abrasion, said in a victim statement: "This has knocked my confidence. I neverexpectedtobeassaultedlike that while out with my wife.
"Although this offence occurredin2019,mylifehasbeen severely impacted."
Edward, 62, of Fontburn, Amble, and Conner, 26, of Station Road, North Broomhill, Morpeth, were later arrested and both pleaded guilty to affray.
The judge sentenced them both to 18 months imprisonment suspended for two years with 200 hours each of unpaid work. They must also abide by a curfew and pay £500 each to the victim.