A PUBGOER had been enjoying a night out with friends when he was beckoned over by a stranger and knocked unconscious with a single punch.  

Rhys Little, 30, punched his victim to the face in a ‘completely unprovoked’ incident in the Joe Bananas pub in Whitehaven on December 30 last year.

His victim, who suffered a head injury and facial numbness, had to be taken to hospital for stitches, and now fears going out again.

Little pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm when he appeared before Workington Magistrates’ Court.

Outlining the case, prosecutor Pamela Fee said the victim was on a night out and had been inside Joe Bananas for about 30 minutes when he was approached by Little. The victim couldn’t hear what Little said and the defendant had then walked away.

Two minutes later, Little waved the victim over to him from the other side of the pub. The victim looked away and then looked back. Little continued to wave him over.

Ms Fee said the victim then walked over to Little, who punched him to the side of the face, causing him to lose consciousness.

When the victim woke up, he was in a police van and could feel his face had gone numb and was wet with blood. Police advised him to go to hospital. The victim had to have several stitches in his head.

In a statement read to the court, the victim said the assault was ‘completely unprovoked’. He said he was just out with friends, having a good time.

The victim said he had not been on a night out since the incident and would feel ‘nervous’ about going out again.

A statement read to the court from doctors who treated the victim in hospital said he had been brought in by police, having suffered a head injury and had been punched to the face by a stranger.

He had a 6cm laceration on his scalp, a bruised cheek and some nerve sensation reduction. His wound was sutured and the victim was then referred to the maxillofacial team for review.

Ms Fee said it was a ‘brief incident’ involving ‘one blow’ but the victim’s injury was ‘significant and had caused nerve damage to his face.

John Cooper, defending, said: “When he [Little] was spoken to by police, he said he had hit someone. He said there was some confrontation and the chap had come towards him. CCTV shows that is not the case.

“He’s not a gentleman that has ever been involved in violence at all. It’s completely out of character.

“He wishes he did understand why it happened. He can’t give a good reason.”

Mr Cooper said Little was responsible for two households and worked as a concrete finisher at Sellafield. He said the defendant would lose his job if he was to lose his liberty.

Mr Cooper said: “It’s a significant injury. The injury appears to have been caused by the fall. He [Little] is obviously responsible for that. It’s unfortunate the injuries have occurred in the way that they have.

“He would like to apologise to the chap today.”

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order with 200 hours of unpaid work. Little, of Hill Top Road, Whitehaven, was ordered to pay £500 in compensation to his victim. He must also pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.