A teenager who left one man with a broken jaw, punched another man to the ground and headbutted two others, has been spared jail.
AdvertisementLiam Errol Bennett, 19, from Preston, was captured on camera lashing out at the men in two separate incidents in Church Street during August last year.
Recorder John Bromley-Davenport, sentencing at Preston Crown Court, said Bennett behaved “like a complete madman” during the attacks which were captured on the city’s CCTV system.
On August 2 Bennett was seen talking to Ryan Jones outside a takeaway at around 5am. But as Mr Jones walked away, Bennett followed him and punched him in the face, leaving him with a fractured jaw which required two metal plates.
Less than three weeks later Bennett was again captured lashing out in Church Street on the city centre’s CCTV.
At 4.20am the teenager can be seen shouting and acting aggressively towards two men, as others try to calm him down.
As the row progressed, Bennett threw a punch at Karl Giles, flooring him with a single blow.
Jordan Daniel tried to intervene but Bennett took hold of him and headbutted him to the floor.
As Mr Daniel lay on the ground Bennet punched him in the stomach.
Jamie Gardener, who tried to reason with Bennett, was also hadbutted in the face. Bennett pleaded guilty to one charge of wounding and three assault by beating when he appeared at Preston Crown Court.
The court heard Bennett has no previous convictions prior to the events of last August and had been drinking heavily on both occasions.
He could not recall what had happened but accepted he was the man pictured acting violently on the CCTV.
Recorder John Bromley-Davenport said it was clear from references handed to him that Bennett has a good work ethic and accepted he was genuinely sorry for what he had done.
He said: “Having watched this video Liam Bennett, you behaved like a complete madman on these two nights. You had absolutely no reason to attack these people.
“You felled your first victim with a vicious blow and broke his jaw in two places, causing him serious trouble since. There was absolutely no reason for doing this.”
Outlining the second incident, he said: “It is surprising they didn’t suffer serious injuries as well.
“All in all it was a thoroughly violent, aggressive, incident – no doubt fuelled by the drink you had consumed. “
He handed Bennett a 12 month sentence suspended for two years with a 30 hour rehabilitation requirement, 180 hours of unpaid work and a 12 month curfew.
The judge added: “You will not go out on the town, you will not enjoy yourself and you will not go out drinking with your friends.”