A cowardly teenager who broke a motorist’s arm in an unprovoked attack walked free from court today.
Sean O’Hagan’s prolonged assault left its victim, a self-employed painter and decorator, at risk of losing his home and 40-year-old business.
He laid into 59-year-old Thomas Norton in a shop car park minutes after their cars nearly collided, Teesside Crown Court heard.
But a judge accepted the teenager acted “wholly out of character” while his state of mind was affected by personal problems.
He gave O’Hagan a one-year sentence in a young offenders’ institution suspended for two years with 150 hours’ unpaid work and a year’s supervision.
O’Hagan was ordered to pay the victim £250 compensation for the attack at Teesside Crown Court.
He wound down his window and shouted abuse at Mr Norton after the vehicles’ “disagreement” on Lord Street, Redcar, said prosecutor David Crook.
Shortly after the near miss he walked towards Mr Norton, who had parked his car and was waiting for his wife outside Argos in Regent Walk.
He motioned saying words like “come on” when Mr Norton got out of his car on November 20 last year.
Mr Norton warned the teenager off saying nothing would be happening as “there’s CCTV everywhere”.
Thomas Norton from Redcar who was a victim of a serious assault by Sean O'Hagan
As he went to get back into his car, he felt blows and used his left arm to cover and protect himself.
O’Hagan only stopped the assault when a neighbour of the victim shouted at him to stop.
He stayed at the scene adopting an aggressive fighting stance and shouting at the injured victim before leaving.
Mr Norton’s left arm was broken in two places and was put into a pot.
He suffered immense pain and discomfort and could not work for six weeks because of the injury.
In a statement read out in court, he said it caused financial difficulties and widespread restrictions on his life.
He had to freeze his mortgage and temporarily lay off staff. He is now back at work but cannot carry out heavy lifting.
He could not drive, felt he lost his independence and he could not enjoy his hobbies.
Mr Crook said: “There was a grave risk, if the injury had lasted longer, that his business would simply have to fold. It didn’t.”
Memories of the assault also marred a family holiday to celebrate his 60th birthday.
O’Hagan, of Thames Road, Redcar, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm, his first offence.
Sean O'Hagan of Redcar
Amy Dixon, defending, said O’Hagan “completely overreacted” to the driving incident then “completely misread the situation” and rained punches on Mr Norton.
She said: “He does express his sincere apologies to the victim. He is incredibly remorseful.
“He makes no attempt to justify his behaviour. He appreciates that it was completely inexcusable.”
She said he was under “a substantial amount of emotional stress” at the time and personal problems went some way to explaining his actions.
She added O’Hagan was desperate to work, had an interview tomorrow and hoped to qualify in health and safety work.
She said he had a “bright future” if he kept his freedom, supported by his family.
The judge, Recorder Eric Elliott QC, told O’Hagan: “You carried out what can only be described as an entirely unprovoked, cowardly and sustained attack.
“Mr Norton was left with a serious injury to his arm which has affected his working life, his social life and continues so to do.”
He said “substantial and significant character references” showed O’Hagan was completely ashamed of his behaviour.
He said O’Hagan acted “completely and utterly out of character against a background of some personal unhappiness and domestic problems and family problems which were not of your making”.
He added: “I think it’s highly unlikely the court will ever see you again.”
In light of these factors, he said he was “only just” able to suspend the custodial sentence.
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