Thug leaves victim with £3k dental bill in Stafford attack

Trouble flared outside Stafford's Yard public house when Christopher Simpson tried to grab a pair of antlers off Ashley Parks.

Simpson punched him in the face, but it was Mr Parks' friend, Alexander Beckett, who suffered the much more serious injury when he went to help.

Mr Neil Ahuja, prosecuting, said Simpson punched Mr Beckett in the face with such force it knocked out one of his teeth.

Police were quickly on the scene and saw Mr Beckett in considerable pain and the defendant with a finger bleeding heavily. As Simpson was arrested he said 'It was one on one, it was him or me.'

When questioned, Simpson went on to tell the police he was an alcoholic receiving treatment, but had slipped back in to drinking. He recalled going in to Stafford town centre to a Christmas 'do', but had no idea how he came to be outside the Yard or how he had injured his hand.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Beckett said he had suffered physically and financially with dental treatment to repair the damage costing £3,000.

Simpson, aged 29, of Coventry Court, Stafford, admitted charges of common assault and assault causing actual bodily harm.

He was given a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years, curfewed for six months and ordered to do 100 hours unpaid community work.

Recorder Mr Nicholas Cole also ordered him to pay Mr Beckett £3,100 compensation along with £300 costs.

The judge branded Simpson's violence as 'drunken loutish behaviour.'

Mr Ahuja said the two victims had been out with other members of their football club for a pre-Christmas celebration when they were assaulted.

Mr Paul Lamb, defending, told Stafford crown court Simpson was a self-employed roofer and would pay the compensation at the rate of £100 a week.