Pub Attack Leaves Drinker With Fractured Skull

A drunken pub customer, who left a fellow-drinker with a fractured skull after suspecting the stranger of “chatting up” his aunt, has dodged prison with a suspended sentence.

Building surveyor student Adam Harvey, 24, of Jessop Court, Graham Street, Islington pleaded guilty to wounding the victim, causing him grievous bodily harm, outside the ‘Narrowboat’ (pictured) in nearby St. Peter’s Street, on December 12, 2008.

He also pleaded guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court to assaulting the victim’s male friend and was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

The court heard Harvey, whose girlfriend is a social worker with Islington’s youth offending team, became angry with a group of four men outside the pub late at night.

He punched the first victim to the ground and delivered two kicks – one to the man’s head – then punched his friend several times to the side of the face.

The semi-conscious victim, who was convulsing, was rushed by friends to hospital where it was confirmed he suffered a fractured skull.

“You pleaded guilty to an immensely serious offence, punching and kicking a stranger outside a pub,” Judge Daniel Worsley told the first-time offender.

“You kicked him twice, fracturing his skull and chased and assaulted another man.

“You started the fight. In your mind you thought he and his friends were being offensive to your aunt.

“You are lucky you did not cause him more serious long term injury. A kick like that can kill someone, you could have been here on a murder charge,” added the Judge.

Harvey was also placed under one year’s supervision, must complete sixty hours unpaid community service work and obey a nighttime curfew for six months.