A COMPANY boss was so badly injured in an unprovoked attack after a Wigan charity event that his own children were terrified of him, a court heard.
David Jackson was repeatedly punched and kicked by complete stranger Steven Elstone and as well as multiple fractures to his nose he suffered two black eyes and numerous bruises. He had been set upon as he smoked a cigarette outside a pub.
The victim was off work for six weeks and initially his three young children were frightened by his battered face.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that he was also so badly affected psychologically that he needed professional help.
His 47-year-old atacker, of Trevore Drive, Standish, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm and was jailed for 21 months.
Judge Thomas Teague, QC, told Elstone, who has no previous convictions, that it had been a “brutal” attack.
Simon Christie, prosecuting, told the court that the incident happened on June 23 last year after Mr Jackson, 46, had been with his wife and friends to a charity fund-raising event.
Afterwards they went to the Boar’s Head public house in Standish and while he was outside having a smoke he gave a cigarette to Elstone, whom he had never met before.
During their conversation he advised him not to go back in following an earlier incident inside but Elstone then punched him repeatedly to the face and while he was on the ground kicked him a number of times.
Elstone left the scene but came back for his coat and was arrested by police during which time he was aggressive.
He told them, “I think I have thumped someone” and when interviewed claimed it had been in self-defence.
Ben Jones, defending, said that Elstone, a father-of-three, had been drinking and was on medication. He had suffered from leukaemia but had recovered.
He said that Elstone had never been in trouble before and was genuinely remorseful and regretted his out-of-character behaviour.