Aldridge pub attacker thought he'd killed man he battered
A man who carried out a violent attack after an argument outside a pub thought his victim was dead, a court heard.
Karl Mills, 34, became involved in an argument with a man at The Crown pub on Anchor Road, Aldridge, after he took issue with how the victim was speaking to some of the women inside the pub.
As the night drew to a close and people left the premises, Mills and the victim continued arguing outside, with the row turning violent and resulting in the victim being left 'battered and bloody' in a bus stop.
Mills, from Icon House, Yardley Road, Acocks Green, pleaded guilty to one charge of inflicting actual bodily harm and possession of cocaine during a hearing at Walsall Magistrates Court.
Prosecuting, Mukhtaiar Aubhi, said: "The victim was left battered and bloody in a bus stop after this attack.
"When police arrived, the defendant told them he had beaten him up and was very aggressive in how he was speaking to officers.
"An officer then deployed a Taser but this did little to stop him.
"He was then arrested, before admitting to officers that he had drunk eight pints of cider and had cocaine on him.
"He said eight pints wasn't a lot for him.
"The next day he was interviewed and admitted that when he saw the victim's injuries in the immediate aftermath of the fight, he thought he was dead.
"He broke down in tears when he described to officers how he tried to hold up the victim's limp body after the attack."
Despite the immediate seriousness of the attack, the court heard the victim was left with a badly bruised eye and recovered.
Defence solicitor Gordon Peters said: "My client has admitted that he has problems with his anger.
"He also admitted that it had crossed his mind to leave the scene but he wanted to stay and accept responsibility for what he had done.
"He has problems with drugs and alcohol and is currently seeking help to change that.
"He lost control in this moment."
Magistrates deemed that the case was too serious for Mills to be sentenced at magistrates court.
Chief magistrate Larry Barnes said: "We have listened to the facts and we have taken the view that this case needs to be sentenced in the crown court.
"This is a very serious attack with significant aggravating features."
The sentencing will be carried out at Wolverhampton Crown Court on April 28.
