Shropshire Star

Shropshire man jailed for violent attack in takeaway

A Shropshire man has been jailed for 18 months after he rushed into a takeaway shop late at night and launched an unprovoked attack on a complete stranger – fracturing his cheek bone.

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Gary Peter Scott floored his victim with a single, hard punch, delivered from behind.

His victim, Stephen Paul Jones, fell on to the counter and then on to the floor by the door.

CCTV film from the takeaway, complete with audio, was played at Mold Crown Court yesterday, where it was described as sickening.

Scott, 23, of Woolston Bank, Maesbury, Oswestry, admitted a GBH charge and possessing cocaine.

The court heard how initially he denied the attack on Mr Jones in Wrexham in the early hours of December 21 last year – when the defendant had been drinking on the traditional "mad Friday" when people finished work for the festive season.

But when the CCTV footage was played to him in the police station, he broke down and cried and said that he could not believe what he had done.

Prosecutor David Mainstone said that was "somewhat surprising" as he had done a similar thing on three previous occasions.

Judge Philip Hughes said the CCTV "demonstrates how you came in and delivered a very sudden and very violent, single punch, from behind, to a complete stranger's face. It was completely unprovoked".

Scott had previous convictions for similar violence, it was committed against a background of excessive drinking, and it was aggravated by the location – a takeaway shop close to a night club in the early hours. Mr Jones's right cheek bone was fractured and two metal plates had to be inserted. It was a serious injury which meant that victim was off work for six weeks.

The judge said that he took into account testimonials, the fact that Scott was a carer for his mother and had his own difficulties. But it had to be immediate custody for such an offence of violence. In the early hours of December 21 police officers were on duty outside Liquid Night Club and their attention was initially drawn to Scott when he entered the Flame takeaway where he swung a punch at an unknown male, who quickly walked off.

They monitored him and saw him enter Armani takeaway and a few moments later they saw Mr Jones fall against the door.

Mr Jones had no recollection but the CCTV clearly showed him walk in and punch him hard to the face from behind, knocking him to the floor. The defendant tested positive for cocaine and was found to have the drug on him.

Ceri Evans, defending, said Scott had had a troubled upbringing, he had been exposed to violence and alcohol abuse within the home. He wished to apologise for what was conceded to be a life-changing injury for the complainant – unprovoked and without any explanation.

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