A FORMER soldier has been jailed for a drunken “spear-tackle” assault in Kendal town centre.
Video footage from CCTV and a bouncer’s body-cam captured Chris William Barnes’ sickening attack on Jonathan Davis just after 1am on August 3.
Joining violence which was started by others, 24-year-old Barnes launched himself at Mr Davis, who was picked up and dumped, head first, on to a pavement in what a Carlisle Crown Court prosecutor called a “spear-like” move similar to that outlawed in rugby.
Mr Davis, aged 36, was immediately rendered unconscious, didn’t make a police statement but later spoke of suffering sleeplessness and headaches.
Barnes was then assaulted himself by another man, was seen trying to punch other males and was aggressive on arrest. He “simply couldn’t remember” what had happened, the court heard, spoke of drinking “15 pints-plus” that night and later admitted actual bodily harm and public order offences.
At the time he was abusing cocaine, and taking steroids and testosterone for bodybuilding. He was also subject to a suspended prison term imposed for a violent attack which occurred in a Kendal bar during August 2018 – just yards from the scene of his assault on Mr Davis. On that occasion, Barnes punched a man and kicked him as he lay unconscious on the ground.
Since his latest offending, the court heard there had been a “sea change” in the life of former Parachute Regiment serviceman Barnes. He was now employed full-time, in a settled relationship, no longer used cocaine and steroids, had cut down his alcohol use and sought help for himself.
But jailing Barnes, of Menin Road, Colchester, for 14 months, Recorder Eric Lamb spoke of a “spear tackle” attack, saying: “With the benefit of hindsight you must realise the dreadful risk that you ran so far as Jonathan Davis was concerned.”
