News Beat
Connor Walker, of Stanley, jailed for York station assault
Connor Walker appeared to take exception to something the man said while at York station on September 6 and threw a single punch at his face.
The victim suffered a bleed to the brain and had to spend a week in hospital, Teesside Crown Court heard on Thursday (November 20), and is still suffering with headaches and tiredness.
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Walker, of Park Road in South Moor, Stanley, admitted a single count of inflicting grievous bodily harm. The 29-year-old previously denied wounding with intent and was due to stand trial in February, but the prosecution accepted his guilty plea to the slightly lesser charge.
The court heard he has previous convictions for violence, including assaulting an emergency worker, for which he was jailed for 16 weeks earlier this year.
Paul Cleasby, in mitigation, told the court it was a single blow and the attack was not premeditated.
“He wants to apologise,” Mr Cleasby said. “He did indicate his guilty plea at the plea hearing.
“It’s likely to be aggravated by his previous convictions.
“He knows it’s a serious matter and the court will have no option other than to impose an immediate custodial sentence.”
Mr Cleasby said while in prison Walker wants help with temper management.
Judge Nathan Adams told Walker it was, “a completely unprovoked assault.”
He said: “The victim was simply a passer-by and you took exception to something he said and threw a punch, causing him to fall to the ground and fracture his skull.
“It was an unprovoked single punch with significant consequences.”
Judge Adams said Walker has had, “a disturbing escalation” to his offending.
Walker was jailed for 22 months. He will spend up to 40 per cent behind bars before being released on licence.
