South Shields man spared jail after leaving victim scarred by attack in Glitterball

An attacker who left a man scarred by throwing "lightning speed" punches at him during a town centre night out has kept his freedom.
Kieren WilsonKieren Wilson
Kieren Wilson

Kieren Wilson, 29, floored his victim with a "sucker punch" in Glitterball, South Shields, on December 2, 2018, then continued "lacing into him" while he was on the ground.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the victim was left with black eyes and a cut on his forehead needing five stitches.

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The injured man said in a statement he was left "scared" and "embarrassed to go to work with black eyes".

The court heard the injury on his forehead left a scar and his his eyebrows no longer appear level.

Prosecutor Stuart Graham told the court the attack happened when the victim approached a pal in the club, who was talking to Wilson at the time, and started joking with him.

Mr Graham said: "At this point, out of the blue, was suddenly what was described as a sucker punch to the head.

"He went straight to the ground.

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"He was then repeatedly punched. The injured party said in his statement he hunched over him and was lightning strike lacing into him with a further five or six punches."

The court heard the attack was stopped by doormen.

Wilson, of Chaucer Avenue, South Shields, admitted assault.

Judge Robert Spragg sentenced Wilson, 29, to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, with 120 hours unpaid work and a £1,500 compensation order.

The judge said he accepted Wilson had shown real remorse for what he did and that he wanted to apologise.

The court heard Wilson, who has a good job and a partner, has no previous convictions.

Gavin Doig, defending, said: "He has considerable remorse for his behaviour that evening.

"Obviously there is no excuse for it.

"It was a terrible error which he is going to pay for."

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