A Catterick soldier who knocked a man unconscious following a falling-out in a bar has been ordered to pay his victim over £800 compensation.
George Noble, 25, a Lance Corporal, floored the victim with one punch, causing him to bang his head on the ground and lose consciousness, York magistrates heard.
Prosecutor Martin Butterworth said the attack occurred on September 20 last year after Noble had accused the victim of looking at his girlfriend inside a pub which led to an initial fight between the two men.
Later that night, Noble spotted the man again at Louis Bar on Kitchener Road, Catterick Garrison.
The two men went outside and there was another verbal altercation, at which point they walked down the road where they “faced up against each other, nose-to-nose” and North “throws one punch to (the victim’s) face”.
“He falls on the floor, immediately unconscious,” said Mr Butterworth.
“Mr North is standing over him with his hands raised and walks off.”
Two or three witnesses rushed to help the victim and gave him first aid.
The victim suffered a “star-shaped” wound to his upper and inner lip which was so deep it had to be closed with two layers of sutures.
North, of Catterick Garrison, was duly arrested and charged with wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm but initially claimed he had acted in self-defence after being attacked by the victim at another pub earlier that night.
North pleaded guilty to the offence when the case reached court and appeared for sentence yesterday (September 22).
His solicitor Kevin Blount said that the Catterick soldier had served his country for nine years and had led a previously blameless life. He had an “unblemished record” in the army and risen to the rank of Lance Corporal.
He said that North had shown genuine remorse for the attack and that there had been a “degree of provocation”.
“The concern for him is that it’s going to cost him his military career,” added Mr Blount.
He said that if Noble received a community order with less than 100 hours’ unpaid work, it was likely that he would be able to continue his military career, albeit at the discretion of his commanding officer.
North was given a 12-month community order with 80 hours of unpaid work and up to 15 rehabilitation-activity days.
He was ordered to pay the victim £840 compensation, as well as £85 prosecution costs and a statutory surcharge of £114.
He should lose his stripe at the very least.