A criminal who hit his grieving man at a funeral vigil and broke bones in his face with a 'wild' single punch has run free from the court.
The brutal strike by Alan Wharton left the jaw of his victim 'separated from the rest of his facial skeleton', while he had several bone fractures against his face, including both cheekbones in several places. He also had a abnormality of the nose and bleeding and swelling in both eyes.
The couple already knew each other three or four years before the incident at Gosforth Empire Club, Newcastle Crown Court, heard and there had been no previous issues between them.
But De Wake suddenly descended in chaos at 8.30 pm March 28, 2022 when Wharton approached his victim while sitting with a group at a long table, spoke with him and gestured to the door.
And when the man get up Wharton, 36, waved a powerful punch and hit him out.
He poured backwards, with only a chair prevented him from falling back and hit his head on the floor.
Judge Gavin Doig said, “This was an absolutely wild blow.” He added: 'The victim had his arms by his side when you struck him fiercely for no reason.
Alan Wharton's brutal strike left his victim's jaw 'separated from the rest of his facial skeleton, while he had several bone fractures against his face, including both cheekbones in several places
The couple already knew each other three or four years before the incident at Gosforth Empire Club (photo), Newcastle Crown Court heard, and there had been no previous issues between them
'It is only good luck that he did not fall and hit his head and suffered even more serious injuries. These courts regularly see people on accusation of manslaughter because they act exactly in this way. If this person died, you would go to prison for years. '
The police were contacted and the victim was taken to the hospital, but the armed forces did not interview Wharton until November 5, at what point he claimed that he had acted in self -defense. He later argued guilty of inflicting GBH.
Wharton, now from Smithy Croft Road, Glasgow, was at the time a suspended prison sentence for the battery and also break that conditional punishment shortly after the GBH by committing a criminal damage. He previously received a fine for that infringement.
Now he has been sentenced to 10 months for 18 months and the victim has to pay £ 5,000 compensation for £ 300 per month.
He also received a five -year house ban and was fined £ 100 for violating the conditional punishment.
Oliver Connor, defensive, said that Wharton moved to Scotland and has not committed any violations since then. He said to the court: “He has a new relationship and has a new daughter. Everything about his life has changed and improved for good. '
