JAILED: Thug who knocked out pensioner with iron bar
A thug who knocked a pensioner unconscious by hitting him over the head with an iron scaffold bar has been jailed for five and a half years.
Nahum Clarke, of Wentbridge Road, Stowlawn, Bilston, carried out the vicious attack outside the Three Tuns pub in Willenhall on August 9.
The assault left 73-year-old Brian Wood in hospital for three days and requiring surgery on a double broken jaw he sustained when he fell to the ground.
Wolverhampton Crown Court was told Clarke had been thrown out of the pub for slapping Jade Whitehouse across the face after she had spurned his advances.
Ms Lynette McClement, prosecuting, said Clarke had accused Miss Whitehouse of rejecting him because he is black, claims which she told him were not true.
"She told him she was gay and was not interested in men," added the prosecutor.
The court was told that at around 4.30am Miss Whitehouse left the pub and was again approached by Clarke, who accused her of being racist and said she was to blame for him getting thrown out of the pub.
Ms McClement continued: "Suddenly he punched her in the face. Mr Wood had seen what was going on and attempted to intervene but the defendant produced a short piece of scaffold bar and hit him on the head with real force."
The blow caused Mr Wood to fall backwards and smash his head against the gutter.
A witness's statement read to the court said: "He was making gurgling sounds and his eyes had rolled back into his head. I thought he was dying."
The court heard that by the time an ambulance arrived Miss Whitehouse had passed out in the street.
The prosecutor added: "Mr Wood is now on edge and always looking over his shoulder. Since the attack he has suffered from tinnitus and his chin has felt frozen and numb."
Miss Whitehouse was said to be scared to walk the streets alone at night as a result of the incident.
Mr Jasvir Mann, defending, said Clarke, who prior to his arrest worked in the Middleton Food Products factory in Willenhall, was remorseful for his actions.
"He is someone who is genuinely sorry," added Mr Mann. "He should have had the good sense to walk away from the situation but he did not."
Father-of-four Clarke admitted wounding with intent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault.
