Man can't look at himself in the mirror after Birmingham city centre attack by 'blackout drunk' thug

A man who was knocked unconscious by a 'blackout drunk' thug after a night out in Birmingham city centre said he could no longer look at himself in the mirror. Nicholas Morgan carried out a 'savage and unrelenting' attack on the victim outside The Village Inn on Hurst Street in the Gay Village, which was captured on CCTV.

The 33-year-old repeatedly kicked him in the head while he was on the ground despite members of the public trying to pull him away. The victim said prior to the incident he had earned income from film casting and photoshoots but had had to give up that line of work and lost his flat as a result.

Morgan, of Melrose Place, Smethwick, accepted he attacked the man but could not remember why. He blamed the fact he had turned to drink after losing his mother and best friend in the months prior.

READ MORE: Mercedes driver accused of murdering man who died three years after he ran over him in Birmingham

He was jailed for three years and six months at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday, November 19 after pleading guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent. Judge Anthony Potter said Morgan's previous convictions did not 'loom large' due to the fact they were more than ten years ago.

But he added: "What does loom large is what we've all had to see in court which was a savage and unrelenting attack on someone who had done absolutely nothing to provoke you."

The incident happened at around 8am on New Year's Eve in 2022 when Morgan and the victim had both been drinking at an after-party for staff in the Gay Village area. Ilana Davis, prosecuting, said: "The reason is unknown why the defendant launched an unprovoked attack.

"The assault started with punches. When the victim fell to the ground he was kicked in the head six times with Mr Morgan wearing boots. The kicks resulted in him being rendered unconscious.

"Members of the public including the manager of The Village Inn tried to intervene but the defendant's attack was relentless."

The victim was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital having suffered a broken cheekbone and nose as well as a split lip and cuts to his face. Morgan was arrested later that day and interviewed.

Ms Davis said: "He said he couldn't remember the assault as he was blackout drunk. He said he was sorry."

In a statement the victim said he had permanent facial scarring which was a 'constant reminder of the attack'. He spoke of suffering panic attacks, nightmares and reliving the incident.

Ms Davis, summarising the statement, said he 'struggled to look at himself in the mirror'. She confirmed he had been forced to give up work where his 'appearance was important', and had to move out of his flat due to the financial implications.

Ekwall Tiwana, defending Morgan, said: "Effectively he lost the plot. It related to a significant amount of trauma. He lost his mother in the October that year and also his best friend in a car accident.

"He was effectively self-medicating by binge-drinking. He was not seeking any kind of help for the difficulties he was suffering from mentally. He simply wasn't dealing with it and should have got some kind of help.

"He behaved in a very bad way by causing significant injury to the victim in this case. The defendant accepts he simply didn't deserve it."

Judge Potter told Morgan: "A large number of friends and family have come to support you today. No doubt they would have been willing to support you at the time and it is a tragedy for everyone you didn't seek support at the time and chose to turn to the bottle."