Petty argument at East Yorkshire pub led to man being knocked out and repeatedly punched while on the ground

A petty argument inside a pub suddenly turned violent just minutes later when a bad-tempered customer viciously knocked another man unconscious to the ground before punching him 10 more times to the head.

The victim suffered a broken ankle after falling heavily during the "prolonged and persistent attack" outside the pub and he later suffered a "rollercoaster of emotions" that left him "shattered" and "broken" mentally and physically, Hull Crown Court heard.

Father-of-seven Jason Ayrton, 50, of Pembroke Terrace, Bridlington, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on the man on November 3, 2022.

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Jennifer Gatland, prosecuting, said that the man was in the Builders Arms pub in Lansdowne Road, Bridlington, at 3.30pm and he sat down to watch some horse racing on TV.

Ayrton was also in the pub and he went to the toilet, meaning that he had to pass the other man. Ayrton told him: "Move your feet, moron" and the man asked him: "What's up with you? I have just come in for a drink."

The man beckoned towards Ayrton and pointed towards the door. Both men went outside and the other customer made a grab for Ayrton, who threw a punch at him, causing the victim to fall to the ground.

Ayrton punched him 10 times to the head while the man was lying seemingly unconscious on the ground. Ayrton went back inside the pub to get his coat and to have another swig of his drink before leaving.

The victim was still on the ground. When he came round, he was confused and could remember only being in the pub. He was taken by ambulance to Scarborough Hospital.

He suffered significant bruises around his head area and bruising and swelling to his ankle. He suffered a fractured left ankle from when he fell over after being punched by Ayrton. This was fixed internally by surgery.

"This was a prolonged and persistent attack," said Miss Gatland. The victim later said that he had suffered ongoing problems and emotional impact because of the incident.

Six months after the assault, he had to buy a bed to put downstairs as he could not get upstairs. He also needed a commode. "I still can't understand why this happened to me," he said.

"I didn't deserve this to happen to me and I didn't do anything to instigate it. It was completely unprovoked. Since this incident, I hardly go out. I have suffered depression since the assault."

The man said that his lowest point was on Christmas Day, which he spent alone because he did not want his grandchildren to see him in the state that he was in. He had suffered headaches and hearing problems and his ankle would not fully recover. He had lost four stone in weight.

"I used to be happy-go-lucky," he added. "I would not describe myself as that now. I struggle to cope. Mentally and physically, I felt broken. It was a rollercoaster of emotions that left me shattered."

During police interview, Ayrton made no comment to all questions. He had convictions for 28 previous offences, including assault causing actual bodily harm in July 2011.

He had been jailed for one year in April 2014 for affray and criminal damage and he was jailed for one year in August 2014 for two offences of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Rachel Scott, mitigating, said that Ayrton was "not the first person to lay hands on" the other person but he "went far too far" during the confrontation. "He acted atrociously and he accepts that," said Miss Scott.

"The complainant took hold of the defendant by his neck when he came out of the door." Ayrton had never denied the assault.

"He was going through a particularly bad time, losing his temper as quickly as he did," said Miss Scott. Ayrton was going through a "messy divorce" at the time after finding out that his wife had been having an affair and that another man had moved into his home.

"He was living in a bed and breakfast for a time and was abusing alcohol," said Miss Scott. "He appreciates fully that he does have an issue with alcohol. He has turned things around since the commission of this offence."

Ayrton had seven children, all daughters. He had worked for 37 years on boats and he was a chief engineer on fishing boats.

Judge Tahir Khan KC said that the other man had "not covered himself in glory" but Ayrton got the better of him and knocked him to the ground outside the pub. "He must have been knocked unconscious," said Judge Khan.

"While he was completely helpless to do anything to protect himself, you punched him repeatedly. It's clear that your assault upon him has left scars.

"He clearly had, at the time, a lot of pain and anguish from the assault that you carried out against him. He had surgery. The mental scars have been significant."

Ayrton was given a two-year suspended prison sentence, 20 days' rehabilitation and six months' alcohol treatment. He was ordered to pay £1,000 compensation.