I fought for my life after being punched at the Grand National stag party – I feel robbed after my attacker was convicted – The Sun

A GROOM-to-be who was struck in a near-fatal attack on his stag has told how he feels 'robbed' after his attacker walked out of court.

Lee Burns, 41, had gone to the Grand National with a group of friends when he was punched by Scott Sutcliffe, 33, outside a bar in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancs.

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He was left with a skull fracture and two brain haemorrhages as a result of the attack, which took place on April 16 last year – weeks before he was due to marry 38-year-old Sara.

Lee underwent surgery in which surgeons removed part of his skull and brain to stop bleeding and reduce pressure from swelling, and he was put into an induced coma.

Sutcliffe pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm or wounding without intent (section 20) when he appeared at Blackpool Magistrates' Court on December 12.

He was subsequently sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years at Preston Crown Court on January 26.

Sutcliffe was also ordered to comply with an electronically monitored curfew from 9pm to 6am daily until April 30 this year and pay Lee £14,000 in compensation.

But in a joint statement with his wife Sara, the father of three said he feels “upset” and “let down” about the justice system.

The couple, who have been together for ten years, said: “We feel deprived, upset, angry and let down by the justice system.

“But we also feel relief because the lawsuit is not hanging over our heads. We have experienced a lot of emotions this past week, which was to be expected.

“What we've decided is that this past year has taken so much of our happiness away that it has had a huge impact on our children.

“Now it's time to make a new start and make the most of our lives together.”

Lee underwent another operation last year to have a titanium plate placed in his skull, but the couple say he still has “lifelong injuries” and “could face more problems” in the future. future.

But despite this, they vowed to “move forward together” as they “don't have a time machine” to go back in time.

They said: “Our lives have been changed forever and we have no time machine to go back.

'But what we do have is that we can move forward together and that could have been so different.

'The lifelong consequences for victims can be so different.

“Although they look good during their recovery, that is not always the case, as with Lee.

“Yes, he looks good and yes, he walks and talks, but is his brain cognitively sound?

“The answer is unfortunately no and further assessments we have had with professionals have shown that he has lifelong injuries.

“We could also face more problems down the road, so it is actually us who are facing the life sentence and not the perpetrator.”

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