Sponsored by
Brothers jailed for 'cowardly' attack
TWO brothers have been jailed for a "cowardly" attack which left a father-of-two fighting for life.
Alan and David Henderson left Michael Brown lying in a pool of blood when trouble flared outside Whispers bar in Laygate, South Shields, on February 1.
Mr Brown, of West Park, South Shields, spent eight days in intensive care with a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain, and will never fully recover from his injuries.
The 34-year-old now suffers from insomnia, depression, random fits, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic headaches, and has to use a walking stick to get around, although he rarely ventures outside of his home now.
Yesterday, his attackers were each jailed for 15 months at Newcastle Crown Court.
Today Mr Brown said: "I don't feel 15 months is really enough for what they did to me, but I wouldn't want to spend one day in jail, so I'm glad they've both been locked up.
"I just hope they will learn from their mistakes while in jail. I feel justice has been done. I'm just glad it's all over and I can get on with my life now."
Prosecutor Gavin Doig told the court trouble started after Mr Brown had been out with pals watching the Tyne and Wear derby match.
After some "pushing and shoving" by David Henderson, Alan Henderson knocked Mr Brown to the ground with a punch, causing him to bang his head against the pavement.
As he lay motionless, both men started kicking him. A chef working in a nearby restaurant came to his aid.
Mr Doig said; "The chef went to see how bad Mr Brown was. He was motionless on the ground, and there was a large amount of blood from his head."
While Mr Brown was in hospital, his partner Danielle Hartley was told he may not pull through.
Despite his recovery, Miss Hartley says Mr Brown is now a shadow of his "confident and happy" self.
Mr Brown added: "My life, as I knew it, is over, I don't even recognise myself anymore. I'm a totally different person. I still have nightmares about that night.
"The only thing that keeps me going is being there for my kids."
Alan Henderson, 23, of John Williamson Street, and David Henderson, 29, of Vine Street, both South Shields, both admitted causing grievous bodily harm without intent.
The original charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent was dropped after doctors concluded the serious head injuries were caused by Mr Brown's head hitting the pavement when he fell.
Judge Tony Lancaster said such attacks are becoming all too common examples of "gratuitous violence fuelled by drink" and jailed the pair for 15 months each.
Judge Lancaster said: "The victim of your offending has suffered very gravely as a result of what you did.
"He has been left with injuries which are so grave he has suffered a personality change.
"The physical weakness he has been left with as a result of his injuries is such that he is not likely to be able to return to his former employment.
"Although the kicking does not appear to have caused the grave injuries which he suffered, nonetheless it was cowardly and despicable behaviour."
Defence barristers said the brothers had not gone out deliberately looking for trouble that night.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for South Shields
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: West
