A DRUNK man has been banned from Worcester after he knocked his victim out with one punch, laughed at him and walked off 'very pleased with himself'.
Mahboob Hussain can be seen on CCTV footage swinging a right hook at the victim outside Shakeeys in Angel Street, Worcester.
The victim has his hands in his pockets when at the time. The 27-year-old defendant admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm when he was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court yesterday.
The blow knocked Ben Sanders into the road where he hit the back of his head. Hussain can later be seen re-enacting the punch in front of friends. The defendant claimed he had been the victim of 'racist' taunts but this 'derogatory' account was not accepted by the Crown and ultimately withdrawn.
Mr Sanders required seven stitches to his spit lip. The back of his head also had to be glued following the attack on November 17 last year.
Amanda O'Mara, prosecuting, said Mr Sanders was outside the fast food restaurant at closing time. "The next thing he recalls is waking up inside Shakeeys surrounded by police and three people he knew. He said he was dazed and didn't really know what had happened" said Miss O'Mara.
She described Hussain 'laughing and joking at the incident'. The judge, Recorder Benjamin Nicholls, said: "He seems to be very pleased with himself."
Hussain of Somerville Road, Birmingham, gave a no comment interview to police. He has convictions for burglary, resisting a police officer, possession of cocaine, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, drink driving, taking a vehicle without the owner's consent and driving while disqualified. The victim, a customer service assistant, was off work for two days. Afterwards did not go out as often and said he was worried about seeing Hussain again.
Jason Aris, for Hussain, said: "Upon showing him the footage it was very clear he was uncomfortable and embarrassed by his behaviour that particular night."
He added: "This is a man who has now decided sobriety is the way forward."
Recorder Benjamin Nicholls said: "This was an absolutely disgraceful episode. For no good reason you launched a haymaker of a punch at Mr Sanders. He was knocked unconscious. He was unconscious for a significant period of time."
The judge said in the aftermath Hussain showed 'no remorse'.
He sentenced Hussain to 12 months in prison suspended for 18 months.
Recorder Nicholls ordered him to complete the Resolve accredited programme with 22 group work sessions, 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and placed him on an electronically tagged curfew for three months between 8pm and 6am. He imposed a five year restraining order, banned Hussain from Worcester for six months and ordered him to pay £590 compensation and £340 costs.
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