The incident, which happened outside McDonald’s in Jameson Street, was described as ‘horrifying’ and ‘highly dangerous’
Shocking drunken violence erupted in Hull city centre when a man was repeatedly kicked and stamped to the head while he was slumped on the ground “motionless” and unconscious. The victim suffered fractures to the skull and bleeding on his brain during the “horrifying” and “highly dangerous” attack, Hull Crown Court heard.
Aaron Wilkinson, 28, of Risby Grove, off Inglemire Lane, Hull, admitted causing grievous bodily harm on September 4. He denied causing grievous bodily harm with intent and his plea to the lesser charge was accepted by the prosecution.
Benjamin Donnell, prosecuting, said that there was a confrontation outside McDonald’s in Jameson Street, Hull city centre, at about 6.40am and the other man was aggressive and caused trouble. Wilkinson threw him to the ground and stamped on his head twice.
He kicked the victim in the face, leaving him lying motionless on the ground. The man suffered several fractures to his skull and bleeding on his brain.
He was later given two injections to prevent meningitis but he did not need surgery and was discharged from hospital on September 9. He returned to Hull Royal Infirmary on October 18, reporting headaches and dizziness, but there was no brain injury.
Wilkinson was in breach of a nine-month suspended prison sentence imposed on July 2 for controlling and coercive behaviour and criminal damage. It involved harassment by telephone calls and messages to a woman, threats of violence and damaging her vehicle.
Hannah Turner, mitigating, said that Wilkinson and his mother were shocked and disgusted by his actions. “He has shown significant remorse for his actions,” said Miss Turner.
“He puts this down to a drunken mistake. It was in the early hours of the morning in the city centre and everybody has had something to drink.
“This is not behaviour that he would exhibit if he was in a rather better frame of mind. He knows that he can’t continue behaving like this.”
Wilkinson telephoned the police when he saw that the police had put out screenshots of CCTV showing the incident to say that he was involved in it. Father-of-two Wilkinson earlier spent 11 weeks in custody before being put on a curfew. He worked with his uncle in a shop fitting business.
Judge John Thackray KC told Wilkinson that it was a “horrifying” incident and another example of city centre night-time violence that prevented decent people going out. Wilkinson was “provoked” by the other man.
“You went far beyond any semblance of self-defence,” said Judge Thackray. Wilkinson repeatedly kicked the man to his head in a “highly dangerous” way while he was unconscious. “One of those blows might have been enough to cause death,” said Judge Thackray.
Wilkinson, who had been on bail, was jailed for two-and-a-half years.