Man who broke friend's skull with punch jailed

A man who fractured his friend's skull with a single "unprovoked" punch has been jailed for almost two years.

David Moore, 33, attacked the victim outside a bar in Amble, Northumberland, with the man falling and striking his head on the road, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

He then pulled his victim on to the pavement and ran into the pub to get help for the stricken man, the court heard.

Moore, a father of five, admitted causing grievous bodily harm and was jailed for 21 months.

The victim was walking by Angie's Tavern on Queen Street at about 23:30 BST on 12 October 2023, prosecutor Matthew Hopkins said.

Moore emerged from the pub, gestured at the man, then punched him, knocking the victim to the floor, Mr Hopkins said.

Moore then pulled the man out of the road, ran into the the pub to raise the alarm then went to the victim's home to get extra help, the court heard.

The victim was found to have a bleed on the brain and three fractures in his skull, the court heard.

In mitigation, Shaun Routledge said Moore, of Straffen Court in Amble, and his victim remained friends after the attack and they had been "local men out having a drink" that night.

He said the attack was "impulsive and spontaneous" and Moore was genuinely remorseful.

Judge Advocate Edward Legard said CCTV footage of the attack made for "chilling viewing".

He said it was "absolutely and abundantly clear" the victim presented "no threat at all" to Moore and yet he punched him, knocking him immediately unconscious.

The judge said the injuries were "very serious" and "grave" but it was "extreme good fortune" they had not had been more devastating.

"It was an attack of unprovoked violence against a wholly defenceless man," the judge said.

Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].