Man jailed for unprovoked punch which broke man's jaw
A stroke victim had his jaw broken in an unprovoked attack as he made his way home from a Conservative Club in the early hours of the morning.
Darren Cartwright was flagged down and called across the road by a neighbour after leaving the Wednesfield Conservative Club, in Neachells Lane, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton.
The neighbour was with 39-year-old Jason Hillman and a 'drunk conversation' ensued, said Mr Simon Warlock, prosecuting.
Mr Cartwright, aged in his 50s, walked away and set off towards Wednesfield Park, but Hillman shouted at him prompting him to turn back towards the pair.
As he did he was punched in the face by Hillman and was left to stagger back to his home.
He collapsed in his living room and spent the next "day or two" in hospital recovering from the blow which fractured his jaw.
Hillman, of Dudhill Road, Rowley Regis, was jailed for 15 months for causing grievous bodily harm at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday.
The court heard Mr Cartwright has been left frightened to leave his home following the attack on May 31, 2015.
Mr Warlock, said: "Mr Cartwright is a stroke victim and is restricted in what he can drink.
"It is not accepted that Mr Cartwright was drunk and the suggestion he would have been aggressive the crown refute.
"He is now frightened to go out. He was knocked unconscious by the punch and was in hospital for a day or two after as a result.
"He was turning away as he was struck so there could have been no contributory action on his part."
The court heard Mr Cartwright had drank four pints at the Conservative Club and Judge Barry Berlin said he was satisfied he was not drunk.
He was near the Dog and Partridge pub when he was called over by his neighbour who was with Hillman and a girl who was crying.
Judge Berlin said Mr Cartwright had asked his neighbour 'why are you upsetting your girlfriend?' adding that had appeared to be the "catalyst" for the violence which followed.
"I find it must have been a very heavy punch," the judge added.
"Mr Cartwright had said nor done anything to provoke it.
"You are a heavy man and if you throw a punch at someone of Mr Cartwright's size and strike them you would hurt them."
Hillman had denied causing grievous bodily harm but was convicted following a trial.
Mr Christopher Gibbons, defending, conceded it was an "unprovoked attack by a drunk man."
