Connor Mockridge, 19, suffered a shattered pelvis when a car drove over him after Alex Jones kicked him in the head and left him lying motionless in the road
A man who kicked his teenage friend in the head and left him lying unconscious in the road where he was hit by a car has been jailed.
Connor Mockridge, 19, suffered a shattered pelvis when a car drove over him after Alex Jones kicked him in the head and left him lying motionless in the road.
Mr Mockridge had to undergo surgery following the incident which Judge Thomas Crowther QC described as “callous”.
The court was told Jones and Mr Mockridge used to share a flat and were “best friends” until the incident.
The incident occurred following a New Year’s house party on King Edward VII Avenue in Newport.
"A heavy blow that seemed to be done with maximum force"
Prosecutor Gareth James said a local resident saw a group of men “tussling” outside.
He told the court Jones “exchanged punches” with two men, before moving on to the complainant.
Mr James said: “There was very little retaliation from Mr Mockridge and the altercation spilled out into the road.”
The prosecutor added Jones “spun” him to the floor, before kicking him to the head.
He added: “It was a heavy blow that seemed to be done with maximum force.
“It appeared to render Mr Mockridge unconscious and he was lying motionless in the middle of the road when the defendant walked away.” The court heard a car drove along the street about 30 seconds after the assault and collided with Mr Mockridge.
Mr James said: “He was lying under a street light, but the car did not see him and drove over him, causing very serious injuries.”
The court heard a neighbour called an ambulance and Mr Mockridge was rushed to hospital, where he was treated for “significant” injuries to his pelvis, which was fractured and dislocated.
He also lost two teeth and suffered a cut lip during the assault.
The court heard Mr Mockridge had surgery on January 9 and was told he would have to use a wheelchair for 12 weeks.
In a victim impact statement, he said he suffered from a recurring nightmare where he was lying in the road, surrounding by people laughing at him, asking: “Am I dead?”
Prosecutors said the victim was released from hospital in January, but his hip dislocated again and he was re-admitted for further surgery.
The court heard he will now have to find accommodation that is suitable for a wheelchair.
Mr James said: “Mr Mockridge has little recollection of the incident and as far as the prognosis is concerned, it is too soon to say.”
In his police interview, Jones accepted he was responsible for the assault, but denied kicking the victim.
He told officers they had been “good friends” and described Mr Mockridge as “like a brother”.
Jones previously claimed the victim had forgiven him, but the prosecutor said: “Mr Mockridge has not forgiven the defendant. He will have problems for a very long time.”
"Full of remorse"
The court heard Jones had 21 previous convictions, including burglary, theft and street robbery.
Jones, 22, from Evans Street in Newport, pleaded guilty on January 30 to inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Stephen Donaghue, defending, told the court his client was “full of remorse”.
He said the pair used to share a flat and were “best friends” until the incident.
The defence barrister added: “It was a terribly tragic event, on any view.”
Mr Donaghue said his client, since being remanded in custody, has completed a course in how to avoid violence.
He added: “The defendant is terribly sorry for what he did. This was his best friend in the world and he cannot forgive himself.”
Judge Thomas Crowther QC said: “These were terribly serious injuries. His pelvis is essentially shattered – destroyed.” Jones was jailed for 32 months.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/man-attacked-teenage-friend-left-12632151
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