Thug jailed for ten years for South Shields street attack which changed victim's life forever

Kevin Dunn kicked, punched and stamped on Mark Morton with such ferocity that terrified witnesses thought he would not survive the brutal assault.

The shocking attack outside the Nisa store at Whiteleas Way in South Shields, on a busy Saturday afternoon last October was captured on CCTV, which was played in court.

Mr Morton, who was punched off his bike by Dunn as he rode past the shops, suffered bleeding on the brain and has been left in a “world of confusion and frustration”.

The 34-year-old, whose already injured jaw was smashed in the attack, needed emergency surgery to the brain bleed and is now unable to live independently.

Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw told Newcastle Crown Court: “One witness described him stamping on the lad’s head eight to 10 times.

“The witness said ‘I honestly thought the lad was going to die. I shouted get off him’.

“Another witness described a sustained assault, repeated punches and then kicks to the complainant while he is on the ground, kicking and stamping.”

Dunn was arrested nearby after the attack and said his victim “got what was coming to him” and branded him a “freak”.

Mr Morton spent three weeks in a coma in a special care unit at Newcastle Royal Infirmary followed by three weeks on a stroke ward.

Mr Wardlaw said: “He now needs 24 hour care. His step-brother has become his full-time carer.”

His step brother said in a statement: “Not only has his life changed forever but mine has too.”

The court heard Mr Morton has had to cope with the death of his father and attending at his funeral after the attack.

Dunn, of no fixed address, who had been given a suspended sentence for driving offences just nine days before the attack, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

He has previous convictions for violence.

Mr Recorder Richard Woolfall sentenced him to 10 years and 38 weeks behind bars.

The judge told Dunn: “He has been left living in a world of confusion and frustration.

“The impact of your assault has had the most serious consequences upon his life and his changed the life of those who have to look after him as well.

“You deliberately both kicked and stamped upon his head.

“At one point you delivered a kick which missed and it is clear the force used as your foot flies up high.

“You landed at least eight to 10 blows, it is a sustained attack and you were aiming for his head throughout.”

John Wilkinson, defending, said Dunn had a good job at the time of the attack and had not deliberately hunted down his victim that day.

Mr Wilkinson said an elderly relative of Dunn’s had had paint thrown at their house and he believed Mr Morton was responsible.

Mr Wilkinson added: “That, in no way, is an excuse for what he did.

“It does look as if the two of them came across each other almost

accidentally.

“It is apparent from the CCTV, the complainant is simply riding his bike down the street and the defendant is coming in the opposite direction.”