The court heard Anthony Mason had 56 convictions for 103 past offences
17:32, 25 Sep 2025Updated 17:36, 25 Sep 2025
Anthony Mason outside Liverpool Crown Court(Image: Liverpool Echo)
A man who attacked a stranger in a nightclub was unmasked as a cannabis farmer when police went to arrest him. Anthony Mason limped into Liverpool Crown Court today, September 25, with the aid of his friends and a security guard. The 53-year-old appeared to struggle to stand as he made his way into the docks, hunched over, with a cane in one hand.
The first incident occurred on May 7, 2022. CCTV from within the Ruby Blues club on Great Charlotte Street showed Mason speaking briefly with victim Wayne Scott before lashing out, swinging at the other man five times and knocking him to the ground.
Prosecutor Ben Berkson said: “The victim, because of the assault, cannot remember what happened. But he fell to the floor and had to go to hospital. There were some quite bad injuries. A CT scan showed multiple bleeds inside the head and he was kept in hospital for four days.”
Mason was arrested for the assault in August, when police attending his property found “obviously hallmarks of a cannabis farm”. Over half a kilo of flowering cannabis heads, with a street value of between £5,000 and £8,000 were found, along with £4,840 cash stashed inside a slow cooker.
A second police raid in August 2023 found “clear evidence of cannabis cultivation”, with two cannabis plants being seized.
And, in March 2024, Mason was again booked on assault charges after punching a man outside the Filling Station takeaway on the corner of Victoria Street and North John Street in Liverpool city centre. The attack was again caught on CCTV.
Mr Berkson said: “Robert Bowen (the victim) was out for a weekend with his friends. They had been to the Cavern Club and other places in the Mathew Street area. The victim had lost his friends and was on his way back to the Holiday Inn hotel by Lime Street station.
“It seems the victim was having a chat with someone outside the takeaway. The defendant seems to be loitering in the area and there seems, at this point, to be no interaction between them.
“The defendant is seen to walk out of shot. the defendant comes back, and this is where (there was) one punch. A second punch, and the victim is knocked to the floor, and assister by members of the public.
“He suffered a 3cm laceration to the left of the mouth, and that was treated with stitches, and after a few hours the victim was discharged from hospital.”
Anthony Mason outside Liverpool Crown Court(Image: Liverpool Echo)
The court heard Mason, of Bannerman Street, Edge Hill, has 56 convictions for 103 past offences. Mr Berkson said: “There are offences of violence on his record, grievous bodily harm and wounding, assaults on police officers, actual bodily harm convictions and public order offences. There are drug offences on his record, possession of cannabis in 2009, supplying a controlled drug of class A in 2021, and production of cannabis in 2023, for which he was subjected to a community order.”
The 53-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of section 20 assault causing grievous bodily harm and two counts of production of a controlled class B drug (cannabis). He also admitted breaching his community order.
Lionel Gregg, defending, said Mason had a drug problem following the breakdown of a relationship. He said: “Addressing the problems with drugs will hopefully go some way to preventing the commission of further offending in the further.”
He added: “Clearly the defendant, as a result of his lifestyle and health, has suffered a stroke. He was hospitalised and spent a part of 2024 in and out of hospital. He suffered an infection and spent a considerable amount of time, which did impact the defendant’s wellbeing.
“The defendant is still clearly suffered with his health and wellbeing, and also with his drug addiction. The defendant also tells me his mother passed away last Wednesday and the funeral is in October.”
The judge, recorder Mark Bradshaw, said: “I have considered all that has been said on your behalf. I take into account your difficulties with drugs. I see you’re actively pursuing support in relation to that. I note your difficult medical history, suffering a stroke. You spent a great deal of time in hospital and suffered an infection during your rehabilitation.
“I take into account you’re still struggling with pain and your mobility is affected. I think it would be difficult for you in prison, with all your difficulties.”
He sentenced Mason to a total of 23 months in prison, suspended for two years. He also made a 12 month drug requirement order and a six-month curfew. Mason was seen twirling his cane around his head in triumph as he walked unaided from the court building.