Rugby coach knocked out reveller's tooth in 'impulsive and spontaneous' Redcar bar attack
A Redcar rugby coach who punched a man in the face and then punched him again has walked out of court, but is now facing a disciplinary and a risk assessment.
Ritchie Young's victim was then kicked by another man, who joined in on the attack in the Blue Lounge bar, on August 28 of last year. Teesside Crown Court has heard that the victim approached Young in the bar, shortly after midnight, and said: "You alright mate? Have you got a problem?"
After he punched the man, Young fled the bar. The second attacker has never been identified. The victim's tooth was knocked out in the attack and he is facing a £4,600 dentist bill to have it replaced.
Young, of Conway Road in Redcar, was arrested and told police that he had acted in self-defence. He later pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He has previous convictions for an affray in 2005 and for threatening behaviour in 2009.
In mitigation, Rob Mochrie told the court that: "There was something going on in the background. The victim, if not threatening him, was seeking to wind him up.
"There had been verbals outside the public house. The victim stood very close to him, to wind him up, and he succeeded - as the defendant attacked him. It was an impulsive and spontaneous attack."
Mr Mochrie said that Young is an "industrious family man" who has two children. When asked about his client's ability to pay compensation to the victim, Mr Mochrie said that his client has a mortgage, "...and earns £30,000 a year.
"He can pay compensation at £50 a month."
The court heard that Young has worked for England Rugby for 16 years, and in his role as a coach developer, he trains teenagers. His barrister said that he is "now facing a disciplinary and a risk assessment will have to be carried out. He may lose his job."
Judge Mark McKone told Young: "You punched your victim. He fell to the floor, where you punched him again. He had a minor laceration, bruising and he lost a tooth.
"You provide the family income. I recognise that if you went into custody today, the impact on your family would be massive. Your convictions show that you are capable of losing your temper.
"This was impulsive but it was more than a single punch - you continued when the victim was on the floor."
The judge said that he was "satisfied" that Young "can be rehabilitated" and handed him a six-month sentence, suspended for two-years. He was ordered to cover the cost of replacing his victim's tooth by paying £4,639 on £50 monthly installments.
"If you commit another violent offence" the judge told Young, "it's likely to be custody next time."
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