County Durham man violently attacked neighbour in street after accusing him of being a Nazi

A County Durham man violently attacked his neighbour and left him bloodied in the street after accusing him of being a Nazi.

Andrew Bryson confronted his unsuspecting neighbour and began calling him a Nazi before the confrontation turned nasty. The confused neighbour insisted he was a "British Christian" before hitting Bryson with a torch after "fearing for his life and safety".

Bryson then launched an attack and repeatedly punched the man and hit him to the ground. The unprovoked assault only ended when a passer-by intervened and pulled Bryson away.

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On Wednesday, Bryson, formerly of Johnson Estate, Wheatley Hill, County Durham, appeared at Durham Crown Court to be sentenced for assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The 47-year-old had pleaded guilty to the offence.

The court heard that Bryson and the victim had known each other since 2018, and the man had even taken meals over to Bryson's home during the Covid lockdown as he knew he lived alone. But in January 2021, the police were called after Bryson began "shouting threats" to the neighbour - the man "sought to avoid him" from then on.

But on November 19 last year, Bryson confronted the man out of the blue. Martin Towers, prosecuting, said: "At around 7pm, [the victim] was walking along a road in Wheatley Hill. It was dark so he was carrying a torch. He heard a voice shouting 'you're a Nazi, a f****** Nazi'."

The man soon realised it was Bryson, and responded to him telling him he wasn't a Nazi and had no idea what he was talking about. Mr Towers continued: "Bryson said, 'If you aren't [a Nazi], what are you?' to which the complainant replied, 'I'm just a British Christian'."

Bryson then asked if the man had a British birth certificate and asked to see it. When the neighbour told him he didn't carry it about, Bryson said: "It's because you're a f****** Nazi."

Bryson then approached the man and grabbed his collar, pulling him into the road. Mr Towers said: "At that point, fearing for his life and safety, he raised his right hand, which had the torch in it, and lashed out towards the defendant's face. The defendant said 'you hit me, you assaulted me first'."

Bryson then launched an attack, and punched the man in the face around six times. The victim then found himself lying in the middle of the road trying to block the punches. The court heard the man's head was hitting the pavement due to the blows being delivered.

The attack ended when a passer-by intervened and pulled Bryson away. The man was left with blood in his eyes and a 20mm cut to his eyebrow. When Bryson was arrested he claimed self-defence.

Tony Davis, defending, told the court Bryson had no previous convictions but had mental health issues. He said: "The defendant, at the time of the incident, was suffering a psychotic episode. There had been a number of problems associated with his existence and he ended up in a position where he was homeless.

"He has no desire whatsoever to contact the complainant in this case. The defendant now has accommodation and is residing in the Hartlepool area. He should receive some credit for his guilty plea."

Judge Robert Adams said Bryson carried out a "significant, unprovoked attack" and handed him an 18 month community order. He must also undertake 30 rehabilitation days and a five year restraining order was imposed.