A drunken man exposing himself in the street in front of families was knocked unconscious by one of the dads in a single blow.
Judge Richard Woolfall said it was “a miracle it was not worse” after the victim suffered a fractured skull and a bleed to his brain. Richard Gathercole, 39, of Low Street, Winterton admitted assaulting the man when children and parents were in their front gardens and in the street.
Sam McGee, prosecuting at Grimsby Crown Court, said a van had pulled up and two men got out to remonstrate with the victim. The men then drove away.
Dad-of-three Gathercole, challenged him when he started exposing himself and then punched him with a single blow to the face. The victim fell backwards and fell unconscious.
Emergency services were called and he was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary for treatment to a skull fracture and a bleed on the brain. Mitigating, Julia Baggs said her client realised the injured man needed help and stayed by his side until he was taken to hospital.
She said her client had handed himself into police the following day. The defence barrister said Gathercole is deeply remorseful. She said he worked for 12 years as a truck driver and latterly as a tree surgeon.
“He is a committed family man, trustworthy and reliable with a heart of gold. Qualities that shone through,” she said after reading letters from neighbours and friends.
Sentencing Gathercole, Judge Woolfall said the blow had knocked him straight to the ground. “That blow was significant,” he said. After a short stay in Hull Royal Infirmary he was transferred to Goole Hospital where he discharged himself after making “a remarkable recovery.”
“People who do not know their own strength or catch someone the wrong way can end up killing people. That becomes one-punch-manslaughter. Mercifully there was a rapid recovery,” the judge said.
He added the father had taken exception to the man exposing himself in front of children. He said it was a grave, life-threatening injury and a miracle it was not worse.
He imposed an 18-month prison sentence suspended for two years. He also ordered Gathercole attend 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.
After the hearing, Gathercole said: “I’m only human”.