Giles Moorcroft, 32, punched the victim afterhe was kicked out of the club
Giles Moorcroft(Image: Staffordshire Police)
A man broke his leg in three places after he was knocked down by an amateur MMA fighter, a court has heard.
Giles Moorcroft punched the victim after he was kicked out of a nightclub in Staffordshire.
The 32-year-old watched as the man was ejected by door staff and tried to hit him but missed.
He then punched him for a second time and the victim fell awkwardly leading him to break his leg in three places, StokeonTrentLive reports.
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Moorcroft later gave a false name to police following the incident outside Pink in Hanley.
Prosecutor Gurdit Singh said the victim was intoxicated in the early hours of March 15, 2025, an had an altercation with someone leading to his ejection from the club.
Mr Singh said: “As he was ejected he threw a punch. The defendant was around the entrance. He tried to throw a punch at the victim which missed.
“He threw a further punch which caused the man to fall to the ground and injure his leg. The victim went to the emergency department at the Royal Stoke University Hospital.”
The victim’s right leg was fractured in three places and he had an operation to insert a metal plate.
In a victim impact statement, he said: “I was subjected to a six-hour operation to have a metal rod in my leg with the joints pinned. I still struggle to have a full night’s sleep.
“I have been depressed, lonely and have not wanted to go out. The assault has had a lasting impact on my health and confidence and I continue to struggle daily with the consequences.”
Moorcroft, of Ledbury Crescent, Birches Head, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Steve Hennessy, mitigating, said: “He chose to involve himself in matters which were not of his concern. The injury to the leg was sustained as the injured party went to the floor, not as a result of a direct blow to the leg.”
He said Moorcroft shares the parenting of his daughter. He has previously been to prison and does not relish returning there.
Mr Hennessy added: “It is accepted he has not shown himself in a glowing light. But he wishes to reassure the court he would throw himself into any community order you might consider.”
Recorder Robert Smith said the offence was so serious only an immediate prison sentence was appropriate.
He added: “The victim was plainly intoxicated. He had an altercation with somebody in the club. He was physically removed by the door staff.
“You were in the foyer area around the front door. You did not need to involve yourself in that incident in any way at all.
“The security staff removed him. He was unpleasant and violent towards the door staff.
“You took it upon yourself to step in, in the street. He was aggressive towards you. But you could have stepped back. You punched out at him and missed.
“And you struck out a completely unnecessary and gratuitous second blow and felled him. He suffered fractures to his shin bone, fibia and another bone in his leg. You are an amateur MMA fighter.
“There was no need for you to step out in the street. You should have turned around and walked back into the club.
“You lied to the police. You gave a false name. You did so to try to get away with it.
“But you were caught out. You are very lucky not to be facing a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
“You caused a serious injury to a man who was drunk. He was no angel himself. His behaviour was aggressive and unpleasant. You did not need to get involved.
“You threw that punch which missed. If you had any sense at all, that would have been it. You chose not to. You chose to punch him a new knockout blow.
“He fell to the floor and fractured his leg in three places. It is so serious only immediate custody is appropriate. People who behave in that manner outside licensed premises can expect to go immediately to prison.”