Crawley thug Kieran Byrne spared prison for sucker punch

Kieran Byrne had been out with pals at a nightclub in Crawley when a fight broke out.

Byrne and four others got into a confrontation with brothers Jack and Daniel Williams, where punches were thrown.

Then as James Clayton and David Harrison arrived to calm things down, Byrne struck Mr Harrison to the eye.

“It felt like I had been hit in the face with a brick,” Mr Harrison said.

He was left on the floor bleeding, and at hospital feared he would lose his sight in his right eye.

Byrne fled the area, but police found the shirtless teen with blood on his hand, which he claimed was because he had punched a lamppost.

At Lewes Crown Court, 19-year-old Byrne admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent, and affray.

His Honour Judge Stephen Mooney said the thug had shown “brutal, uncalled for aggression” but imposed a one-year suspended sentence.

Lewes Crown Court.

Adrian Fleming, prosecuting, told the court the crimes happened on January 5, 2020 in Crawley town centre after the men were leaving the Locker nightclub.

He said: “Jack and Daniel Williams said hello to a group of men, who then became aggressive.

“Violence broke out when a man with a top knot ponytail threw punches.

“Kieran Byrne was seen joining in at the end of the attack. He did not have a top on and had distinctive tattoos.

At the same time David Harrison and James Clayton were walking through and saw the incident outside McDonald’s

“It appeared a group of five were verbally abusing the Williams brothers.

“David Harrison tried to diffuse the situation. He was punched hard by Kieran Byrne to the area of the right eye.

“Mr Harrison didn’t see the defendant or being punched. He was knocked to the round and was bleeding heavily. It was described as a sucker punch and was without provocation.”

Mr Harrison said: “There was immediately severe pain and blood was pouring down my face. I was covered in blood.

“I feel scared and unsafe, I’m worried when I go out that I might get hit again.”

Mr Fleming said Byrne, of Shaws Road, Crawley, has a previous conviction for a similar offence when he was aged 16.

The incident happened in Crawley town centre

Kyri Argyropolous, defending, said his client is remorseful, and came across to the probation service as showing “confusion and shame”.

He realised he has a drink problem and has stopped, and has now “understood the consequences of his actions and shown considerable maturity.”

Mr Argyropolous said: “The consequence of an immediate custodial sentence would be potentially catastrophic.”

Judge Stephen Mooney said he had to take a longer term approach to try to stop Byrne's "violent explosions of anger".

He ordered the teen to complete the Resolve anger management programme, 30 rehabilitation sessions with the probation service, and complete 200 hours of unpaid work.