Student who had to have face rebuilt sees attackers escape jail

8:00am Thursday 20th December 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Neil Hunter

A STUDENT has had to have his face rebuilt after being savagely attacked outside a nightclub, a court heard yesterday.

Lewis McGarrity suffered extensive fractures to his nose, cheekbone, eye socket and palate, and continues to have pain.

The victim says in a statement that he is now self-conscious about his face and no longer feels able to go to college.

His attackers, Kelham Hindmarsh and Phillip Dodgson avoided prison when they appeared at Teesside Crown Court.

The pair admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm and were given suspended jail sentences with four-month night-time curfews.

Street cameras captured the assault during which Mr McGarrity was repeatedly punched by Hindmarsh and kicked by both men.

Judge Tony Briggs described the late-night incident in Middlesbrough town centre in May as "nasty" and fuelled by drink.

Dodgson's barrister, Brian Russell, said he had downed a "monstrous" amount of booze and was shocked by what he did.

Jennifer Coxon, for former Royal Navy seaman Hindmarsh, told Judge Briggs: "He just can't imagine doing what he did."

The court heard how the victim has very little recollection of the attack, and there had been fears for his eyesight after the incident.

Miss Coxon said of Hindmarsh: "He is extremely remorseful for what happened that night. He describes it as absolutely disgusting."

Dodgson, of Master Road, Thornaby, near Stockton, was given 12 months, suspended for two years, with probation supervision.

Hindmarsh, of Mansfield Drive, Thornaby, received eight months suspended for two years, with 100 hours of unpaid work.

Comments (25)

10:58am Thu 20 Dec 12

glyn says...

I am sick and tired of people blaming drink for their crimes.
Like a lot of people I like a few beers but I have never had the inclination to beat the living daylights out of anybody.

They are remorseful only because they got caught and want a light sentence. (and got one).

Would they have been so remorseful if it not been caught on cctv? No they would have denied it.

Stamp down on these people on their first crime not as we read so many times "after 20 plus other similar incidents"
I am sick and tired of people blaming drink for their crimes. Like a lot of people I like a few beers but I have never had the inclination to beat the living daylights out of anybody. They are remorseful only because they got caught and want a light sentence. (and got one). Would they have been so remorseful if it not been caught on cctv? No they would have denied it. Stamp down on these people on their first crime not as we read so many times "after 20 plus other similar incidents" glyn

11:05am Thu 20 Dec 12

sarahd says...

Disgusting
Disgusting sarahd

11:25am Thu 20 Dec 12

Idontknowaboutyoubut says...

What do these scumfeeders have to do,before they get locked up?Lets face it,they will view the suspended sentence as a "result"
I imagine the victim must feel badly let down by the judge,who is no doubt following guidelines gesigned to ease the strain on the prisons.Unfortunatel
y,it leaves these thugs free to do their worst,which they probably will.It is quite shocking.
What do these scumfeeders have to do,before they get locked up?Lets face it,they will view the suspended sentence as a "result" I imagine the victim must feel badly let down by the judge,who is no doubt following guidelines gesigned to ease the strain on the prisons.Unfortunatel y,it leaves these thugs free to do their worst,which they probably will.It is quite shocking. Idontknowaboutyoubut

11:54am Thu 20 Dec 12

CTRILEY says...

Given recent events I'm surprised the Judge didn't tell the scumbag that it took courage to do what he did.
Given recent events I'm surprised the Judge didn't tell the scumbag that it took courage to do what he did. CTRILEY

12:33pm Thu 20 Dec 12

smokin says...

the same thing happened to my son his face had to be re built and he was very lucky not to have lost an eye
when I got to the hospital I didn't even recognize my own son
when the police were told who had done it all they said was " OH THAT'S HEARSAY AND WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT"
how else are the people responsible for these crimes supposed to get caught and what is the use of tv shows such as crime watch where they ask the public for help in finding criminals, if when they are told who these thugs are they say it's just hearsay
so some are never caught just left to do it over and over again as will these thugs
the same thing happened to my son his face had to be re built and he was very lucky not to have lost an eye when I got to the hospital I didn't even recognize my own son when the police were told who had done it all they said was " OH THAT'S HEARSAY AND WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT" how else are the people responsible for these crimes supposed to get caught and what is the use of tv shows such as crime watch where they ask the public for help in finding criminals, if when they are told who these thugs are they say it's just hearsay so some are never caught just left to do it over and over again as will these thugs smokin

12:48pm Thu 20 Dec 12

chrisby33 says...

Words fail me, Was the judge related to these wastes of oxygen?

a review needs to be held into this, he has been far too easy on them
Words fail me, Was the judge related to these wastes of oxygen? a review needs to be held into this, he has been far too easy on them chrisby33

1:19pm Thu 20 Dec 12

lfp says...

Another out of touch judge ,as long as its not on my patch ,or my family involved ,i dont care.
Another out of touch judge ,as long as its not on my patch ,or my family involved ,i dont care. lfp

1:25pm Thu 20 Dec 12

DodgyMerchant says...

Drink doesn't make a vicious thug. It let's the thug act how they want.
It gives violent scum a "Get Out Of Jail Free" card. The term they use for this from of sentence is a "walkaway". Sums it up, really.
The probation visit will give them a free bus trip down town to go shopping every week.
Drink doesn't make a vicious thug. It let's the thug act how they want. It gives violent scum a "Get Out Of Jail Free" card. The term they use for this from of sentence is a "walkaway". Sums it up, really. The probation visit will give them a free bus trip down town to go shopping every week. DodgyMerchant

1:35pm Thu 20 Dec 12

Davy Crocket says...

I think Tony Briggs should stand down and let someone else judge on cases such as this ... shameful.
I think Tony Briggs should stand down and let someone else judge on cases such as this ... shameful. Davy Crocket

1:48pm Thu 20 Dec 12

Townlad says...

These pair of animals will get whats due to them, I know one of them and believe me there`s a few people will be gunning for them when they are seen out and about,, the judge needs struck off for this.
These pair of animals will get whats due to them, I know one of them and believe me there`s a few people will be gunning for them when they are seen out and about,, the judge needs struck off for this. Townlad

2:07pm Thu 20 Dec 12

smokin says...

just to add I once had to visit a court to hand in some papers and while I was waiting for a reply I looked around and on the wall was a poster that said
plead guilty now and you will get a lighter sentence !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
unbelievable but TRUE
just to add I once had to visit a court to hand in some papers and while I was waiting for a reply I looked around and on the wall was a poster that said plead guilty now and you will get a lighter sentence !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! unbelievable but TRUE smokin

2:25pm Thu 20 Dec 12

gavshaw62 says...

just another reason to see why this country is going down the pan. judges who cant put the penalty to the crime mr briggs should be struck off. better still ask mr briggs if he could do the sentance these scumbags should have got.
just another reason to see why this country is going down the pan. judges who cant put the penalty to the crime mr briggs should be struck off. better still ask mr briggs if he could do the sentance these scumbags should have got. gavshaw62

3:11pm Thu 20 Dec 12

fracker says...

this is the future,just wait till all the redundancies in the police come through,a lot more cases won't even get to court.
this is the future,just wait till all the redundancies in the police come through,a lot more cases won't even get to court. fracker

3:20pm Thu 20 Dec 12

loonyleft says...

The country has nomoney to build new jails,so you will have to get used to verdicts like this.
The country has nomoney to build new jails,so you will have to get used to verdicts like this. loonyleft

3:55pm Thu 20 Dec 12

Normski1960 says...

...glad nobody has come out with the classic "bring back national service" because one of these scum is ex-RN..and being ex-navy myself I can't begin to describe my disgust....
...glad nobody has come out with the classic "bring back national service" because one of these scum is ex-RN..and being ex-navy myself I can't begin to describe my disgust.... Normski1960

3:57pm Thu 20 Dec 12

stevegg says...

Another in the growing flood of injustice carried out by our soft out of touch judges. Its long overdue that judges/magistartes are held to account for their actions. If thesuspects reoffend after being given a non custodial sentance by a court, those responsible should be held to account as it is in just about every other profession these days. They are failing in their duty of care to protect the public and always siding with the offenders rights. Judges and magistrates would be far more inclined to apply the sentencing guidelines more rigourously if they knew they were in the firing line themselves!
Another in the growing flood of injustice carried out by our soft out of touch judges. Its long overdue that judges/magistartes are held to account for their actions. If thesuspects reoffend after being given a non custodial sentance by a court, those responsible should be held to account as it is in just about every other profession these days. They are failing in their duty of care to protect the public and always siding with the offenders rights. Judges and magistrates would be far more inclined to apply the sentencing guidelines more rigourously if they knew they were in the firing line themselves! stevegg

4:15pm Thu 20 Dec 12

CTRILEY says...

stevegg wrote:
Another in the growing flood of injustice carried out by our soft out of touch judges. Its long overdue that judges/magistartes are held to account for their actions. If thesuspects reoffend after being given a non custodial sentance by a court, those responsible should be held to account as it is in just about every other profession these days. They are failing in their duty of care to protect the public and always siding with the offenders rights. Judges and magistrates would be far more inclined to apply the sentencing guidelines more rigourously if they knew they were in the firing line themselves!
Well said, instead of elected Police Commissioners why not elected Judges?
[quote][p][bold]stevegg[/bold] wrote: Another in the growing flood of injustice carried out by our soft out of touch judges. Its long overdue that judges/magistartes are held to account for their actions. If thesuspects reoffend after being given a non custodial sentance by a court, those responsible should be held to account as it is in just about every other profession these days. They are failing in their duty of care to protect the public and always siding with the offenders rights. Judges and magistrates would be far more inclined to apply the sentencing guidelines more rigourously if they knew they were in the firing line themselves![/p][/quote]Well said, instead of elected Police Commissioners why not elected Judges? CTRILEY

4:30pm Thu 20 Dec 12

mumof2teenagers says...

Unbelievable
Unbelievable mumof2teenagers

6:22pm Thu 20 Dec 12

boxtie says...

The victims solicitor should appeal against the leniency of the sentence, what a diabolical decision by an idiotic judge. I reckon they should have received 6 year term ( 3 years in jail )
The victims solicitor should appeal against the leniency of the sentence, what a diabolical decision by an idiotic judge. I reckon they should have received 6 year term ( 3 years in jail ) boxtie

6:48pm Thu 20 Dec 12

still here says...

Why doesn't the Northern Echo any longer have the 'like' button for the public's comments? Is it because the public were giving their honest views? e g: "I agree with that man's comments".

Bring back the 'Like' comments please!
Why doesn't the Northern Echo any longer have the 'like' button for the public's comments? Is it because the public were giving their honest views? e g: "I agree with that man's comments". Bring back the 'Like' comments please! still here

9:56pm Thu 20 Dec 12

frankyboy says...

It does seem strange that in England these days you can kick someone almost to death and then just walk away from court scot-free.
It does seem strange that in England these days you can kick someone almost to death and then just walk away from court scot-free. frankyboy

10:10pm Thu 20 Dec 12

vercingetorix says...

What this REALLY says is this ........if you have even the slightest grievence against an individual is its ok to half kill him. The judge wants sacking and there should be an immediate appeal against their sentence. I am totally disgusted...simple as that.
What this REALLY says is this ........if you have even the slightest grievence against an individual is its ok to half kill him. The judge wants sacking and there should be an immediate appeal against their sentence. I am totally disgusted...simple as that. vercingetorix

7:46am Fri 21 Dec 12

victorjames says...

Davy Crocket wrote:
I think Tony Briggs should stand down and let someone else judge on cases such as this ... shameful.
I could not agree more there seems to be no extenuating circumstances other than drink. Compare this sentence with benefit cheats who although having cheated the public purse would usually benefit more from putting something back by doing community work. I think there ought to be a campaign to have this sentence referred upwards to The Attorny General, its a disgrace.
[quote][p][bold]Davy Crocket[/bold] wrote: I think Tony Briggs should stand down and let someone else judge on cases such as this ... shameful.[/p][/quote]I could not agree more there seems to be no extenuating circumstances other than drink. Compare this sentence with benefit cheats who although having cheated the public purse would usually benefit more from putting something back by doing community work. I think there ought to be a campaign to have this sentence referred upwards to The Attorny General, its a disgrace. victorjames

12:53am Mon 24 Dec 12

doonhamer says...

frankyboy wrote:
It does seem strange that in England these days you can kick someone almost to death and then just walk away from court scot-free.
Bet the Judge was ex Royal Navy, sailor boys stick together in more ways than one you know.
[quote][p][bold]frankyboy[/bold] wrote: It does seem strange that in England these days you can kick someone almost to death and then just walk away from court scot-free.[/p][/quote]Bet the Judge was ex Royal Navy, sailor boys stick together in more ways than one you know. doonhamer

4:50pm Wed 26 Dec 12

robbiejay says...

Welcome to soft-touch Britain. As someone above says, let's have elected judges!
Welcome to soft-touch Britain. As someone above says, let's have elected judges! robbiejay

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