Man partially paralysed after pub attack row over round of drinks

Nathan Bell knew Craig Timmins who was in the Fox and Goose, in Greets Green Road, West Bromwich when he arrived on April 5. The men were acquaintances but not close friends, a judge heard.

A boisterous atmosphere developed at the pub in which Bell lifted a much smaller customer into the air above his head like a weight lifter, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The 34-year-old defendant left after getting involved in an argument with Mr Timmins over a round of drinks but returned around half an hour later, said Mr Anthony Cartin, prosecuting.

The row between the two men flared again and Bell asked Mr Timmins to step outside where they could settle the disagreement.

He noticed CCTV cameras and urged his opponent to move out of their vision unaware that the spot they chose was covered by another camera.

Bell sent the victim to the ground with a punch and left him lying where he fell. Other passers by gave first aid while the attacker left the scene in a car.

Mr Timmins, who hit his head on the ground as he fell, is paralysed down one side of his body and had a catastrophic bleed on the brain, the court heard. He cannot walk and can only say a few words, it was said. It is unclear whether he will recover any of the lost faculties.

Mr Simon Rippon, representing Bell, said: "He has made no attempt to minimise what he did but nine out of ten times this kind of incident would have led to no injury at all while this one ended terribly after being started by an argument which would not go away."

Bell from Highmoor Road, Rowley Regis, who runs a 24 hour emergency service business for commercial vehicles, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm.

He had no previous conviction for violence and was described in references given to the court as a "gentle giant" and a "big teddy bear."

He was jailed by Judge Michael Challinor who told him: "You punched Craig once. No weapon was used and it was not a sustained attack.

"You did not intend the injuries he received and are as shocked and upset as anybody else over what happened. You know what you have done and must pay the price but when you are released it may still be that Mr Timmins continues to suffer."