Man left with fractured skull after he was knocked out in Wrexham pub

A man who knocked out a customer in a Wrexham pub has been spared jail. Matthew Rawlinson twice punched his victim who fell to the ground, suffering a fractured skull in the unprovoked attack.

Mold Crown Court heard the victim Matthew Smullen realised he might be seriously injured and went to hospital for treatment. Rawlinson pleaded guilty to assault causing grievous bodily harm in the incident at The Cross Foxes in Coedpoeth in May last year.

A judge today decided the defendant, 36, who has mental health difficulties, could be rehabilitated. She gave Rawlinson a 16-month jail term, suspended for 18 months. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here

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Prosecutor Denise Fitzpatrick told the court that Mr Smullen was talking to a Dean Jones - Rawlinson's cousin - in the smoking area of the pub on Saturday, May 6 last year. CCTV footage played in court showed Rawlinson suddenly punch Mr Smullen twice.

Mr Smullen fell backwards and was knocked unconscious as other customers went to help him. He woke and went home where he "slept continuously", said Ms Fitzpatrick.

Five days later on May 11 Mr Smullen realised the injuries were severe and went to the Countess of Chester Hospital. A CT scan showed he had several fractures including an eleven cms fracture down to the base of his skull.

He also had bleeding and swelling on the brain. He was treated and discharged a week later.

He had to have other appointments for symptoms including a loss of hearing, a loss of smell and headaches. Joshua Gorst, defending, said Rawlinson has post traumatic stress disorder and has been unable to control his responses.

But it is now to his "great credit" that he is "not afraid to ask people for help". The court heard the same defendant had held his partner hostage for 12 hours and been jailed for six and a half years in 2017.

But Mr Gorst said his client is a "different person". He had not offended between 2017 and the Cross Foxes incident in 2023.

He is "disgusted and ashamed" of himself for the assault in the pub. He has been off alcohol ever since.

The judge Her Honour Nicola Jones noted Rawlinson had had five or six pints and was suffering from depression at the time of the GBH. He has serious mental health problems "exacerbated by a devastating diagnosis in relation to your mother's health."

Suspending the jail term, the judge ordered him to do 30 days of rehabilitation activity and stay out of pubs, clubs and hotels where alcohol is served for six months.

She also made a restraining order prohibiting the defendant, of Croft Court, Ellesmere Port, from contacting his victim or referring to him on social media.

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