[A] MAN has been jailed for almost seven years for a vicious Whitehaven pub attack.
Carlisle Crown Court heard how Mark Quigley dragged “defenceless” victim Ryan Burns by the throat from a bar stool inside the Yellow Earl pub late on December 30.
Mr Burns, described as a “happy drunk” at the time and “almost half-asleep”, was slammed to the floor by Quigley. Some witnesses believed he was already unconscious on the ground by the time Quigley stamped hard on his face four times as he lay prone and horrified bystanders looked on.
One staff member was said to have “vomited” having witnessed the violence, which was graphically caught on pub CCTV footage and later leaked on social media.
As others in the pub tried to restrain 43-year-old Quigley, his wife – a nurse – assisted Mr Burns and placed him in the recovery position. But Quigley, described as “a man possessed”, was said to have urged her “don’t help him” and “let him bleed out”.
The crime had a profound effect on Mr Burns, who suffered four facial fractures and today (FRI), as he attended court for his attacker’s sentencing, still bore some injuries.
Quigley – like his victim a Sellafield worker – admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He “bitterly” regretted an “out of character” offence described by his barrister as an “aberration”.
A married dad, he was backed by a raft of supportive character references in which he was said generally to be “calm, reasonable and dedicated to his family”.
Quigley, of Hillcrest Avenue, Whitehaven, was jailed for six years and nine months. Judge James Adkin described the violence as “explosive”, and told him: “It is, in fact, pure good fortune that his injuries were not more significant – that he didn’t suffer a fractured skull.”
Detective Constable Paul Hulse , of the West Cumbria CID, said: “Whilst the victim of this assault suffered serious facial injuries, the brutal and vicious nature of the attack means it could easily have ended up far worse. Quigley chose his moment to launch this cowardly attack on a heavily intoxicated man who had no opportunity to defend himself.
“Quigley had drank heavily throughout the day but there can be no excuse for such actions.
“The sentencing today shows how seriously the police and the courts take such attacks. Quigley will now have plenty of time to consider his actions that night from within a prison cell.”
