Thug, 25, punched woman as she tried to split up fight on night out in Newport town centre
A thug who punched a woman on a night out and then tried to run from police has avoided prison.
Liam Johnson, aged 25, lashed out at the victim as she was trying to split up a fight between his brother and her boyfriend outside a takeaway in Newport.
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Shrewsbury Crown Court was told how the victim and her partner were waiting for a taxi outside Raja’s Fast Food in High Street between 1am and 1.40am on October 29, 2022 when she was struck to the head and fell to the floor.
She was reportedly kicked while she was down, but the kick “was not attributed” to Johnson, according to prosecutor Danny Smith.
Police officers arrived on the scene and saw two men punching each other and witnessed Johnson punching the woman.
Johnson made a run for it and an officer chased him.
He pushed the policeman to the ground but the officer used his Pava incapacitant spray to detain him.
The woman Johnson attacked suffered a fractured finger and had to wear a splint for five days, and complained of pain to her face and head.
The policeman who was pushed over did not suffer any injuries.
When he was interviewed by officers Johnson gave no comment.
Cocaine, alcohol and 'hanging out with a bad crowd'
Johnson, of Church Road, Trench, Telford, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault by beating of an emergency worker.
Rachel Hughes, mitigating, said: “At the time of the offence he had just turned 22. He was young and immature at the time.”
She said Johnson accepted he was “hanging out with a bad crowd”, and was taking cocaine and using alcohol.
Ms Hughes also said Johnson was working for a demolition/asbestos removal company and lives with his father and grandmother, who is unwell. His mother was in the court’s public gallery.
Judge Trevor Meegan told Johnson: “You struck her with such force she fell to the ground.
“It was over three years ago. You work in demolition and travel all over the country.
“Alcohol and cocaine were a feature of your life but it seems you are now in a much better place.”
The judge handed Johnson a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for one year, and 200 hours of unpaid work.
He also ordered Johnson to pay £1,000 to the victim in compensation and £500 to the court in prosecution costs.
“All of these orders are a direct alternative to prison,” the judge told Johnson.