A drinking session at a sports bar suddenly turned nasty when a customer angrily accused another man of looking at his girlfriend – and viciously punched him, causing a fractured eye socket and nose.
Liam Seaward would not accept the man’s desperate attempts to “placate” him and to assure him that he had not been staring at the woman. Seaward accused him again of looking at his girlfriend and forcefully punched him in an “impulsive” attack. The victim suffered serious and “harrowing” injuries, Hull Crown Court heard.
Seaward, 29, of Yatesbury Garth, Bransholme, Hull, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on the man on May 31. The incident happened at the Tribal Bar and Grill in Kingswood, Hull.
Recorder Helen Chapman said that Seaward had been drinking during the afternoon with his girlfriend and this extended into the evening. There was “an exchange” with the other man and Seaward accused him of looking at his girlfriend.
The man told him that he had not been doing this but Seaward accused him again. The other man “tried to placate” Seaward and apologised to him.
Seaward tried to punch him but missed before lashing out at the victim again, causing “multiple fractures in his face” – a broken left eye socket and nose – and significant bruising. The pictures of the man’s injuries made for “harrowing viewing” and he was referred for surgery, said Recorder Chapman.
There was concern that he might need further surgery in the future. “On any analysis, they were very serious injuries,” said Recorder Chapman. During police interview, Seaward made full admissions but he claimed that he thought that the victim was trying to provoke him. He had convictions for five previous offences, including two for violence in similar circumstances in 2018.
Abigail Rowley, mitigating, said that Seaward had limited previous convictions. He threw two punches but he did not use a weapon. The two men did not know each other.
“It was not prolonged or persistent,” said Miss Rowley. “It was an impulsive and relatively short-lived assault. He has stopped drinking and no longer goes out.
“He has shown insight into the cause of his offending. He is keen to make a positive change in his life. He has assured me that this is the last time that he ever wants to be before a court.”
Seaward had a strong work ethic and he was working 40 hours a week at a food factory. He had a three-year-old daughter.
Recorder Chapman said that Seaward had expressed regret but he had the option at the time to “walk away” from a confrontation with the man. “This was a short-lived and impulsive offence,” said Recorder Chapman.
Seaward ought to have learned a lesson after being given a community order in 2018 when he “behaved in a similar way” and used violence. “The conviction doesn’t seem to have sunk in with you,” said Recorder Chapman. “You were in drink at the point that you behaved in this way.”
Seaward had expressed regret in a letter to the court and to the probation service. “You are getting too old for this sort of thing and you have, wisely, in my view, stopped drinking altogether, recognising that your behaviour in drink is far from ideal,” said Recorder Chapman.
Seaward was given a one-year suspended prison sentence, 200 hours’ unpaid work, 20 days’ rehabilitation and a 120-day tagged alcohol monitoring order. He was given a two-year restraining order and must pay £150 costs.