Court hears halloween partygoer in Jesmond suffered fractured eye socket after punch
A partygoer dancing in the kitchen at a Halloween gathering ended up in hospital with a fractured eye socket after he was attacked by a boxing trainer.
The male was socialising with his partner and friends when he was struck to the face by William Smith at the event on Sunbury Avenue in Jesmond, Newcastle, on October 31 2023.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the victim had approached Smith earlier in the evening because he took the view the defendant had been "forward" with his girlfriend and other females at the party.
Ian Cook, prosecuting, said Smith replied saying he was from a "rough part of Manchester" but the pair decided to shake hands and leave the matter alone.
However an hour later, the victim was dancing in the kitchen with his partner when Smith approached and punched him in the face and then delivered two more "upper cut" style blows.
Mr Cook said the male left the party to go back to his hotel with the belief his injuries were limited to a bloodied nose and bruised eye.
But the next day his condition worsened and a trip to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle revealed a fracture to his eye socket.
The court also heard Smith exchanged Instagram messages with the victim's partner the following day where he referred to him as having acted like a "cocky c***" and that he deserved it.
Mr Recorder Richard Herrman said the messages were an "unattractive feature to say the least" and told him it was lucky for him that the complainant had made a full recovery otherwise he may have faced a more serious charge.
Smith, now 20 but was 18 at the time, of Grafton Street, Bacup, Lancashire pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm.
The recorder told him: "On the 31st of October 2023 so around 18 months ago now, (the complainant) was at a Halloween party in Jesmond with his partner."
He was of the view you had been very forward with his partner and other females at the party and he effectively asked you to calm yourself down because you were making people feel uncomfortable.
"You gave some expression no doubt to intimidate how you were from a rough part of Manchester. At that stage things seem to resolve amicably and you shook hands, certainly (the complainant) thought it was over."
About an hour later he was dancing in the kitchen with his partner and other people when you grabbed him."
The court heard Smith turned his victim around and punched him to the eye.
The recorder added: "You then grabbed a hold of him by the back of the neck and inflicted a further at least two upper-cut punches to his face.
"It's your good fortune that the injuries didn't require surgical intervention."
Recorder Herrman added that Smith at the time was undergoing boxing training and told him he must have known the power of the punches.
Brian Hegarty, defending, said Smith works across the country doing installation work.
Mr Hegarty said: "He allowed feelings of anger and grief to surface at a time where he should have been able to keep a lid on his emotions and feelings.
"He accepts taking drugs later in the evening but that's a habit he has now put firmly behind him. He's in stable and secure work. He's in a stable relationship."
Recorder Hermann sentenced Smith to an 18-month community order to be carried out alongside 200 hours of community service and 30 rehabilitation days.
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