Man floored cousin's partner outside Sunderland bar TTonic, leaving him with back injury

A maintenance manager inflicted a serious lower back injury on his cousin’s partner by knocking him to the ground outside a Sunderland bar with a single push.
By Gareth Crickmer
Published 9th Dec 2020, 06:00 BST
Updated 9th Dec 2020, 11:25 BST
The incident happened outside TTonicThe incident happened outside TTonic
The incident happened outside TTonic

Adam King’s attack left Andrew Bennett in hospital for ten days with a medical complaint for which he requires treatment a year later, a court heard.

King, 40, of Lawnswood, Houghton, shoved his victim as he stood talking to his girlfriend outside the TTonic bar in Vine Place on December 1, 2019.

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Mr Bennett could recall little of the incident but remembers coming round on the ground, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard.

King, a father, has now been ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and pay £1,500 of compensation to his victim, after he admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Prosecutor Lesley Burgess said: “Mr Bennett was inside the TTonic bar with three others.

“They were talking but couldn’t hear so Mr Bennett and his cousin went outside to continue their conversation.

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“He describes speaking to his cousin and someone coming at him. He remembers next being on the floor.

“Mr Bennett had to go to Sunderland Royal Hospital, and he was an inpatient for some ten days, due to pain.”

Ms Burgess added: “I would submit there was significant injury and force sufficient that Mr Bennett is still going to hospital as a result of his injuries.”

The court was told King’s attack stemmed from his dislike of how Mr Bennett treated his cousin.

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Jason Smith, defending, told Deputy District Judge Nicholas Hayles: “This was spur of the moment. There was an element of provocation.

“The question for you is if it passes the custody threshold.”

In sparing King jail but making him subject to a 12-month community order, Judge Hayles said he accepted there had been a level of provocation.

He also took into account King did not mean to inflict serious injury, but added: “You’ve knocked him to the floor and caused significant damage to him.”

King must also pay £85 court costs.

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