Man was left with fractured jaw after early hours Stockton attack

A MAN was left with a fractured jaw after he was viciously punched and kicked after a night out in Stockton.

Dean Mortimer, 20, had been speaking to his victim outside the Wobbly Goblin pub in Stockton town centre - before being invited to the nearby casino on Chandlers Wharf Bridge Road in the early hours of May 4 this year.

Outside the casino, Mortimer was caught on CCTV punching his victim in the face, and repeatedly punching him while he was on the floor, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Mortimer kicked him “two or three times” to the head and chest, before being dragged away by friends - only to return to his victim, who had staggered to his feet, and deliver another knockout blow.

Prosecutor Emma Atkinson said: “The victim had taken his wallet out of his pocket to find his key - a group of men, including the defendant, commented on the amount of money he had.

“The victim had about seven or eight pints of beer and described himself as drunk. He said he was going to the casino and invited the group to go with him.”

Miss Atkinson told the court that in the casino car park, another man patted the victim’s pocket, before he felt a blow to the left side of his head and fell to the floor.

“He saw the defendant running at him and he began kicking him and punching him. He believes he may have lost consciousness,” continued Miss Atkinson.

“He then managed to stagger to his feet when others dragged the defendant away. But he returned and punched the victim again and knocked him to the floor.”

A victim impact statement read to the court heard that the victim had needed a metal plate inserted in his fractured jaw, and has had ongoing dental problems.

He is also suffering from anxiety and stress, is frightened to leave the house, and has lost money because he has had to go on sick leave.

Mortimer, of Albert Road, Fairfield, Stockton, had pleaded guilty to one count of inflicting Grievous Bodily Harm.

He had previous offences for battery in 2012 - involving kicking at a woman’s head, spitting on a woman, and pushing a woman against a wall.

Mitigating, Graham Silvester told the court that Mortimer had told police he was acting in self defence - and that he had been intimidated by the victim because he was bigger than him.

That was rejected by Judge Howard Crowson, who saw CCTV footage which showed Mortimer was the larger man.

Mr Silvester said: “He accepts that he went over the top. He says he was intimidated, but accepts that he struck first and that the victim had not put up his hands to fight.

“He does feel remorse for what he has done. He said he wishes it had never happened.”

Sentencing Mortimer to 20 months imprisonment, Judge Crowson said: “You do have a history which suggests you lose you temper.

“The film showed you are a bigger man than him. You persisted in beating him even after you had been pulled away by your friends.

“It is important that people in the wider community know that these crimes end up with prison.”