PARTY goers attending a birthday celebration at a Carlisle social club were temporarily locked in by concerned staff because of the “crazed” behaviour of angry man outside.
Damian Patterson, 30, was furious with his victim, a man who had earlier had a disagreement inside Harraby Catholic Club with the defendant's sister. In front of horrified onlookers, including children, Patterson attacked the man with a bottle.
The defendant repeatedly attempted to get at his victim, at one point brandishing and then using the bottle to hit him on the head, causing an injury.
Patterson admitted an actual bodily harm assault and affray. At Carlisle Crown Court, prosecutor Gerard Rogerson outlined the facts.
The defendant had joined relatives and friends at the social club on July 6 for his elderly father’s birthday party – an event that was in fact a joint 70th and 80th birthday celebration of two people, the court heard.
CCTV images from outside the club showed Patterson behaving angrily, clearly agitated while talking to the victim before the assault. Describing that footage, Mr Rogerson said: “He was standing with his arms folding, smoking a cigarette.
“He is then seen throwing his cigarette to the ground and angrily striding over towards [the victim], and then engaging with him, throwing punches at punches at him.”
The two young men were seen grappling, at which point bystanders attempt to intervene, with people attempting to control Patterson.” But he picked up a bottle, striking the victim with it before being wrestled to the ground by onlookers.
The victim was left bleeding from a head wound after the assault.
All of this was witnessed by a group of people, including children and young girls, one clearly distressed as she sobbed, holding her hands in front of her face. “She was extremely upset,” said Mr Rogerson.
“There was also a young boy who had to be calmed by his parents.” Patterson was seen returning again and again in an attempt to fight the other man. “It was only the arrival of the police which brought it to a halt,” continued Mr Rogerson.
“The incident was so bad that a member of staff at the club felt the need to lock the rest of the part attendees inside to prevent the violent outside from entering the premises.” The worker described Patterson's behaviour as "crazed."
The court heard that Patterson, said to be under the influence of drink at the time of the offending, has 51 previous offences on his record, which included public order crimes and assaults.
Jeff Smith, defending, said the defendant had experienced a traumatic time since his arrest and being remanded in custody. While he was in jail, his father had died, though he had been allowed by prison officials to attend the funeral.
Patterson’s mother was relieved that he was in jail at the time of the tragedy because she feared he would have responded by drinking heavily and getting into a situation similar that that which erupted at Harraby Catholic Club.
“She hopes this will be a turning point in his life,” said Mr Smith.
Judge Micheal Fanning said Patterson had been offending since he was aged 11 and a background report showed his tendency to simply “react” rather than think about which arose.
“You just flip,” said the judge, noting the defendant’s several previous offences of violence. Whatever may have happened before the offences, he should have stopped himself reacting and walked away, said the judge.
“You just don’t think things through,” continued the judge. Judge Fanning said he was glad prison staff had showed the humanity to let Patterson attend his father’s funeral. Yet the violence was part of an ugly and unpleasant incident, witnessed by children.
It was also sustained, lasting for several minutes.
Because of this, and the defendant’s record, the only appropriate sentence was one of immediate custody. Patterson, of Grahamsfield, Kirkpatrick Fleming, Annan, was jailed for a year. “I hope this is going to be a turning point in your life,” added the judge.
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