Attacker spared jail after causing serious facial injuries in 'unprovoked' punch in Northampton town centre

A man was spared jail after causing another man serious facial injuries in an 'unprovoked' attack during a night-out in Northampton town centre.

Farai Munemo chased the victim and punched him in the face after initially acting as peacemaker in August 2018, Northampton Crown Court heard yesterday (Monday, February 24).

The victim spent several days in hospital as well as several weeks on a liquid diet and off work following the fight at around 4am.

Munemo, 26, of Ellis Way, Abington, who had previously pleaded guilty to causing grevious bodily harm, was given a nine-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, and fined £2,840.

Recorder Shamin Qureshi told the defendant: "Clearly, if you're out at 4am in the morning, people had been drinking and there was an argument, not of your making.

"You tried to break it up but for whatever reason you turned around and hit him in the face, causing serious consequences.

"The victim was in hospital for a number of days and had to have a liquid diet and was in a lot of pain."

The court heard the victim, who had been drinking, and his friend, who was designated driver, were walking back to the car to go home having left Balloon Bar when they met a group of five men.

CCTV footage showed Munemo, who was in the larger group, trying to break up an argument between the men on Angel Street, which seemed to end.

But then the defendant was seen chasing after the victim before punching him once in the face, which briefly knocked him out.

The victim and his friend went to their car and drove to A&E at Northampton General Hospital, having suffered a fractured cheekbone, a fractured eye socket, a broken nose, various cuts, a lost tooth and a chipped tooth.

He required surgery under general anaesthetic, could not eat solid food for six weeks and did not go back to work for four weeks, according to the victim's statement.

Beverley Da Costa, defending, asked the judge to suspend any prison sentence as Munemo is the sole breadwinner for his wife, two children and step-child and was of previous good character.

"I can't go far enough to express the remorse and sorrow he feels," she said.

Munemo was told to pay £2,500 in compensation to the victim, costs of £200 and a surcharge of £140 and was given a curfew for six months.

Mr Qureshi, who described the attack as unprovoked, told the defendant 'it was rather stupid of you to behave how you did' and urged him to 'stay out of trouble'.