http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/15341931.Stroud_man_Timothy_O_Brien_punched_taxi_passenger_26_times_breaking_two_teeth_on_New_Year_s_Eve/?ref=rssA 29-YEAR-OLD Stroud man has avoided jail despite punching a taxi passenger 26 times as he tried to grab the cab for himself on New Year's Eve.
At Gloucester Crown Court on Friday Timothy O'Brien of Ben Grazebrooks Well, Stroud, pleaded guilty to assaulting Michael Niblett causing actual bodily harm on December 31, 2016.
The court heard Mr Niblett suffered damage to his teeth that will cost £6,500 to repair.
Recorder James Townsend described the attack as 'extremely nasty' and sentenced O'Brien to eight months jail suspended for two years.
He also ordered him to do 15 days of rehabilitation activity and a 30 day programme requirement.
He further ordered O'Brien to pay compensation of £4,000 to Mr Niblett at £100 a fortnight.
Prosecutor Nick Fridd said Mr Niblett and his sister were in a taxi which pulled up in Stroud town centre.
O'Brien was waiting for a cab and tried to get in as they were getting out.
Mr Niblett put his hand up and told O'Brien to wait.
"The defendant claims Mr Niblett also used some choice words in doing so," said Mr Fridd.
"But what happened next there was no excuse for.
"O'Brien punched Mr Niblett and continued to punch him to his face 26 times, breaking two of his teeth.
"Mr Niblett has made a statement indicating he has since suffered from headaches and that treatment for dental reconstruction will cost £6,500.
"He is not hopeful of being able to get that treatment on the NHS.
"He says he now does not like going out after dark and he has difficulty sleeping."
When arrested O'Brien claimed Mr Niblett had swore at him.
He said he had had a lot to drink that night and was angry.
"He said he had drunk 10 to 15 pints of lager and some shorts," Mr Fridd added.
O'Brien had no criminal convictions in the UK but had been sentenced for burglary in Limerick, Ireland, he said.
Mark Linehan, defending, said: "This was plainly a very ugly incident and not at all becoming.
"The blows were not all concentrated on Mr Niblett's face.
"It was more a case of a drunken pursuit rather than a concentrated attack on one area.
"CCTV of the incident showed they were haymaking punches to the body.
"At that time he was having problems at work and was thinking of giving up his job.
"He had a skinful that night - more than he usually drinks."
O'Brien had been living in the UK for nearly two years.
He accepted that the root cause of his offence was that he has a 'rather serious drink problem,' the lawyer added.
"He has taken steps to address that problem, including attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings."
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