A man smashed a mug of tea over his neighbour's head after being called a "nonce".
Paul Daord left his victim with permanent facial scars following a rumbling feud between the two parties. He ran home covered in blood following the street attack before collapsing in front of his distraught toddler.
Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Thursday, there had been a "history of animosity" between Daord and Thomas Gardiner, which had seen the police called on a "number of occasions previously regarding allegations made on both sides". Nardeen Nemat, prosecuting, described how the complainant had been walking his dog along their road, Trinity Street in Birkenhead, at around 2pm on August 17 last year.
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His route to the park took him past Daord, who was sat on a chair in the street with a third resident named only as "Tommy". Mr Gardiner said to the latter, in reference to the 57-year-old defendant: "Don't f***ing speak to him.
"Why are you speaking to him? He's a nonce."
Daord reacted by hitting him once over the head with the cup of tea he was holding. The incident was captured by CCTV cameras, with this footage being played to the court.
Mr Gardiner was taken to hospital after suffering a series of serious cuts to his face, including a 20cm laceration to the left side of forehead. These wounds "healed well", but he has been left with "visible scarring".
In a statement read to the court on his behalf, he said he had sustained "major facial injuries" and "nearly died on the operating table" due to blood loss. Mr Gardiner reported he is now "unable to play with his son", with the three-year-old having been left "hysterical" after seeing his dad burst through the door with blood all over his face before collapsing in the kitchen.
He added: "This was the most traumatic experience of my life. I see people stare at me when I go out – the physical and mental scars have caused irreversible damage that can't be undone."
Daord has nine previous convictions for 10 offences, including burglary and supplying class A drugs. He was last before the courts for criminal damage in 2004.
Anna Duke, defending, told the court that only one complaint had previously been made to the police by Mr Gardiner previously regarding her client, who had reported his neighbour on several occasions following alleged incidents of verbal abuse and criminal damage. She added: "Quite clearly, there is a background in relation to this case.
"This is a defendant who has not been in trouble for some considerable length of time. He has no convictions whatsoever in relation to violence.
"The defendant does suffer from anxiety and depression. With everything in the background, he fully accepts that, in that moment in time, he picked up the cup and gave one blow and one blow alone.
"He has found custody extremely difficult. He is quite an isolated and vulnerable individual who has found custody perhaps even more terrifying than other people who are used to going in and out of prison.
"That is not him. What happened on the day in question was not him."
Daord admitted unlawful wounding. He was jailed for 15 months and handed a 10-year restraining order, and reached over a glass panel at the back of the dock in order to shake his brother's hand before being led down to the cells.
Sentencing, Recorder Martin Reid said: "There is, it appears, a history of bad feeling between you. It is clear that this was a fast moving incident.
"You lost your temper and hit him with a mug, which you accept you knew you had in your hand. The complainant suffered serious injuries to his head.
"He has struggled to accept the physical changes. They have taken their toll on his self-esteem and confidence.
"The physical and mental scars are sadly irreversible. You have faced several struggles in your life.
"There is some lack of understanding of the effect this has had on your victim. You have shown little remorse and insight into the consequences of your offending."
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