Thug walks free after brutal Cirencester assault (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester man needed hospital treatment after vicious assault at Mackenzie's bar in Cirencester

4:30pm Sunday 20th January 2013 in News

A THUG who stradled a prone man and battered him repeatedly in the face has avoided being sent to prison.

Cirencester man Mark Walker's night out with three nephews was brutally ended when he was set upon by 28-year-old Gary May of Cheltenham.

Mr Walker suffered two swollen black eyes, bruised cheeks, and a cut to his forehead and needed hospital treatment following the unprovoked attack at Mackenzie's bar in Cirencester, Gloucester crown court was told.

May, of Waterloo St, Cheltenham, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Walker causing him actual bodily harm on July 21 last year and was sentenced to an eight-month jail term, suspended for two years.

He was also placed under supervision for 12 months and ordered to attend seven sessions of an anger management course.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC also placed him under home curfew from 7pm-5am for five months.

Prosecutor Lisa Hennessy said Mr Walker had drunk about eight pints of lager and was 'feeling merry' by 11pm when he was attacked.

"He realised one of his nephews was having an altercation with another man. Within a few seconds of that realisation he was on the floor being punched to the face.

"The next thing he remembered was being in an ambulance with a towel full of ice being held to his head.

"He was taken to Swindon General Hospital where he was treated for two subconjunctival haemorrhages and a one centimetre laceration to his forehead."

Mrs Hennessy said the attack had been seen by a doorman who saw May 'facing Mr Walker with their faces almost touching.'

She said "Without warning May thrust his hand forward and hit Mr Walker in the face. All hell then broke loose - as the doorman put it, 'it was just one big fight.'

"May straddled Mr Walker and punched him to his face and head. This went on for a couple of minutes."

May left the club but was arrested half an hour later at another Cirencester bar. He claimed he had acted in self-defence.

Judge Tabor told May he was just able to avoid sending him to prison immediately for the offence.