Drunk caravanner stamped on victim's head in pub

Gary Messham, 49, had been staying at his caravan in Richmond, North Yorkshire, when he attacked the man in the town’s Golden Lion pub.

His brother-in-law Keith Whitford, 53, who joined in what the landlady said was the worst violence she had seen, was given a suspended prison sentence at Teesside Crown Court.

Prosecutor Paul Newcombe said the victim was left unconscious with a dislocated shoulder and suspected fractured nose in the incident on May 21 last year which arose over earlier family hostilities.

Messham, who had previous convictions for drunken violence, punched the man several times before the landlady broke up the attack.

She ordered Messham and Whitford to leave and the victim was being escorted through the beer garden when they resumed the attack.

He was thrown over a plant pot and was punched by both, and Messham kicked and stamped on his head a number of times.

Messham had a previous conviction for unlawful wounding in 1995 while drunk, and two convictions for driving with excess alcohol.

Sean Grainger, defending, said that hard-working Messham admitted the offence in interview but he still denied stamping.

Kelleigh Lodge, defending Whitford, said he had no recollection of the incident but he admitted it after being shown the pub’s CCTV.

Both pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm assault. Messham, of Walton Terrace, Wingate, was jailed for 18 months, and Whitford, of Meadow Avenue, Blackhall Colliery, was sentenced to 12 months jail suspended for two years, with 150 hours unpaid work and £600 costs.