The culprit was told by the judge: ‘Even a single punch can have severe consequences’
J Multaney appeared at Hull Crown Court(Image: Hull Live)
The public is fed up and tired of incidents of violence – and even a single punch can have “fatal consequences”, a judge said at court. J Multaney, 26, of Malvern Road, Goole, admitted an offence of inflicting grievous bodily harm on a man on March 9 last year.
He originally denied the matter but he later changed his plea. The incident happened in Boothferry Road, Goole.
Multaney also admitted assaulting a female on the same day. This was also a change of plea to that matter.
He appeared before Hull Crown Court for sentence after entering guilty pleas at an earlier hearing. The case had been adjourned for pre-sentence reports.
Mollie Briggs, prosecuting, said that Multaney threw two punches at another person. She read from a victim impact statement in which the man said that the incident had made him wary of going out.
The attack had a “big financial impact” on him due to having to be off work for five weeks. This amounted to a loss of £4,000. There had been psychological harm, said Miss Briggs.
Defence barrister Andrew Pickin agreed with the judge’s proposal for a suspended prison sentence to be imposed. No other mitigation was requested after an indication was given of the sentence to be handed to Multaney.
Judge John Thackray KC said: “The public are fed up and tired of this sort of incident.” He added: “Even a single punch can have severe consequences.
“These courts deal with instances where there are fatal consequences.” But Judge Thackray told Multaney: “They are unusual circumstances, when you acted out of excessive self-defence.”
Multaney was given a nine-month suspended prison sentence and an 86-day alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement, which will mean he will have to wear a tag. He was also given 20 days’ rehabilitation and he must pay a £187 victims’ surcharge.
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