The dad-of-five stamped on and kicked an unconscious man in the head when a ‘fist fight went too far’
Dean Kempster, of Molyneux Drive in Prescot, aged 47(Image: Merseyside Police)
A thug stamped on and kicked an unconscious man in the head after a drunken fist fight “went too far”. Dean Kempster exchanged punches with his victim in the street in Liverpool city centre before chasing him down and dishing out the sickening violence after the initial incident had petered out.
The dad-of-five and “functioning alcoholic” says he is now seeking to change his ways. His own counsel told a court yesterday: “He knows that, every time he gets drunk, something like this happens.”
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Wednesday that Faisal Alschmeri “had a few beers” with a friend before walking along London Road at around 12.15am on June 15 this year on his way home. There, he was said to have “come across some incident” involving a “male and female arguing”.
Christopher Hopkins, prosecuting, described how CCTV showed him approaching two men near to a bus stop before Kempster, of Molyneux Drive in Prescot, appeared in the street. There then followed a “disagreement” between the 47-year-old and Mr Alschmeri, leading to punches being thrown by both men in the middle of the road.
But Mr Hopkins added: “It is what happens at the end of the incident, when it is clearly over. The parties are separated, but the defendant then comes back and continues his attack on the complainant.
“The complainant ends up in the area of the kerb. The defendant kicks him on the ground. He walks away, come back and kicks him to the head area. He is clearly unconscious.”
Footage which was played to the court showed Mr Alschmeri running away following the initial altercation before Kempster chased him down and resumed the violence, thereafter being seen stamping on the complainant and delivering a sickening kick to his head after he had been knocked out. He suffered a broken nose and bruising as a result of the incident.
Kempster has 27 previous convictions for 39 offences, including entries for assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Peter White, defending, told the court: “He accepts that there is nothing to justify what happened. The build up is unclear, but, in what turned into a fist fight, Mr Kempster clearly went too far.
“He has shown genuine remorse. To quote him, ‘he didn’t deserve the injuries he got, I hope he’s ok and he recovers’. He was in drink. This is a man who accepts that he has essentially been a functioning alcoholic for the last 25 years.
“He has held down work and accommodation at times and fathered five children, but it appears that he has lost it all to drink. He is in and out of custody, living a chaotic lifestyle.
“He is adamant that he is going to have long term sobriety on his release. He knows that, every time he gets drunk, something like this happens. There is another side to Mr Kempster. He has shown insight into his actions.
“In my submission, he is not a lost cause. In his words, he is keeping his head down. He wants to maintain his sobriety and is hopeful that he might have contact with his children. He wants to be part of their lives.”
Kempster admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a grey prison issue jumper and glasses, he was jailed for 40 months.
Sentencing, Judge Garrett Byrne said: “You subjected the victim to a vicious assault. You knocked him to the floor and kicked him to his face. You stamped on his face. You were dragged away and came back. I saw, on CCTV, what I can can only describe as a full force kick to the face.
“There were serious injuries. It has all had a lasting impact on Mr Alschmeri, causing him to suffer from anxiety. He suffers from nightmares, disrupted sleep and depression. You were intoxicated at the time. You have relevant previous convictions. I find nothing particularly compelling in terms of mitigation.”