A POOL player battered a close pal unconscious with his cue and left him scarred for life after hearing that his victim's girlfriend had reported him to benefits bosses.
He was jailed for two years yesterday for the savage attack which left the victim with parts of his dentures embedded in his lip after being struck with the thick end of the cue.
Peter Chappell, 50, told police after the attack in Hartlepool Engin
eers Club that Alan Dolman's girlfriend had reported him to the Department of Work and Pensions over his benefit.
Police seized CCTV footage from the club which showed Chappell behaving aggressively to his close friend Mr Dolman, 52, on the night of Sunday, March 2.
Mr Dolman said Chappell told him: "You are going to get it," said prosecutor Shaun Dodds.
Fifteen minutes later the CCTV showed Chappell leaning over a table and shouting at Mr Dolman, who was ignoring the taunts. Chappell was then seen shaking hands with an opponent after losing a pool game, and he walked down the room holding the cue at the thin end.
Without any provocation he struck Mr Dolman across the head, knocking him unconscious, Teesside Crown Court was told.
Chappell was then restrained, and Mr Dolman was taken by ambulance to North Tees General Hospital with a 2in cut to his upper lip. A piece of dentures was removed from his lip and he was told that he would be left with permanent scarring.
Chappell told police in interview: "I don't know what happened really. I did not intend to do what I did. It was just a blur."
He went on to apologise and he spoke about the Department of Work and Pensions connection.
Stephen Constantine, mitigating, said Chappell was shocked, bewildered and remorseful for his actions. He said Chappell, who received incapacity benefit, has been questioned by the department about a report that Mr Dolman had been his lodger, which was untrue.
Chappell believed Mr Dolman's partner was responsible and that Mr Dolman was ignoring the issue. Mr Constantine told the judge: "This is to all intents and purposes a decent, hardworking man who has had a moment of madness.
"I ask you in the inevitable circumstances to keep the sentence has short as possible. He is assessed as a low risk of harm, that is rarely said in such a serious offence."
Chappell, of Rydal Street, Hartlepool, was jailed for two years by the Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox, after he pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
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