Father-of-four who had battled back from meningitis left brain damaged after drunken attack

Anthony Croft still suffers speech problems nine months after being smashed in the head with a pint glass in a Hartlepool bar.

Christopher Stansil, 21, was yesterday locked up for two years and two months after he admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm.

His victim, 37, may never recover fully, has been left with depression, and has counselling which he says has not helped his plight.

The Teesside Crown Court judge, Recorder Euan Duff, said his life has been "utterly devastated" by the attack in June last year.

Mr Croft, a divorced father-of-four, told in a statement of the "dreadful" impact, and bravely added: "I'm trying to combat this."

He said: "The area of my brain that was damaged has affected my speech. I still struggle to find the words I know. It's so frustrating.

"I'm having speech therapy, but could not see my children after the attack because I was so embarrassed about the way I spoke.

"I used to go to the gym and keep fit, but I have not been since this happened. I have only been out one after a friend persuaded me."

The court heard how apprentice roofer Stansil was "getting more and more wound up" as he boozed in the bar after the Christening.

Mr Croft and his friend were sitting at adjoining tables and after initially seeming friendly and chatty, Stansil struck.

It is thought words were exchanged about homosexuality, before the attacker stood up with his pint glass to "swill" Mr Croft.

The victim got out of his chair at the same time, and was struck in the side of the head with the glass, said prosecutor Sue Jacobs.

Martin Scarborough, mitigating, said Stansil, from Sittingbourne, in a Kent, was bullied at school and seems to lack maturity.

"Whatever was or wasn't said this day, he gets himself wound up when he, perhaps, thinks people are taking the mickey," he said.

Mr Recorder Duff told Stansil: "It is absolutely clear you had a good deal too much to drink. You have issues with temper and aggression.

"Your behaviour has had an utterly devastating effect on Mr Croft. That is likely to be ongoing for some time if not permanent.

"Having been seriously ill and being on the way to making a good recovery, he suffered bruising to the brain which has affected his speech."

Mr Croft, from Hartlepool, spent five weeks in hospital fighting viral meningitis and associated illnesses six months before the attack.

Mr Recorder Duff told Stansil he had heard and read good things about him, but added: "Unhappily, they cannot out-balance the damage you did.

"You must learn to control your temper in future, and try, at your young age, to get your life back on track when you come out."