Court Report

 

A man was sentenced today after punching an innocent man in the face at a pub, resulting in GBH, Bournemouth Crown Court heard today.

 

The court was told Martin Muldoney, 51, was enjoying a quiet drink with his wife at the Harrier Pub, Hamble Lane on 29^th April 2008, when the attack occured.

 

Crown Prosecutor Stuart Ellacott claimed, Brett Griffith, 31, walked towards Mr Muldoney, and was said to be ‘all over the place’ resulting in accidently bumping into Mr Muldoney’s wife. His wife had recently undergone an operation on her hand and Mr Muldoney told Mr Griffith ‘to be careful, she’s just had an operation’.

 

Mr Ellacott went on to say that Mr Griffith then shouted abuse at Mr Muldoney while waving his arms around. Mr Muldoney then felt a massive blow to the face, heard a crack, and felt like his face caved in. He was taken to Southampton General Hospital, which said he had suffered from a displaced fracture of his left cheekbone and had to undergo surgery.

 

The attack is said, by Mr Ellacott, to have left a pain and numbness in Mr Maloney’s cheek that can take up to 18 months to heal or the effect could be permanent.

 

Yet, defence barrister Jonathan Simpson alleged the accidental and unintended encounter was provoked when Mr Muldoney told Mr Griffith ‘to go and get his dad,’ which is a sensitive subject to Mr Griffith as he replied ‘I don’t have a dad.’ The punch was then swung which Mr Griffith pleaded guilty to.

 

The encounter was said to be a huge regret to Mr Griffith and references, read by Mr Simpson, from his employers describe him to be gentle, considerate and a model employee.

 

Judge John Harrow ordered Mr Griffith to serve an immediate custodial sentence of 16 months imprisonment for GBH, in which he will be released on license once he has served half of his sentence.