Robert Gibson left his friend needing 12 stitches, knocked two teeth out and inflicted a black eye while a guest in his home
Robert Gibson, who assaulted his friend
A night in watching boxing ended with a champagne-fuelled thug raining punches on his blameless friend after falsely accusing him of spiking his drink. Robert Gibson turned violent on his pal of many years after going to his home in South Tyneside to watch a fight on TV.
Newcastle Crown Court heard it was on August 16 last year the victim collected Gibson from his home. He was intoxicated when he got into the car and said he had drunk a bottle of champagne and he continued drinking alcohol heavily for around an hour at his friend’s home.
His behaviour became erratic and he then began to put his shoes on. When asked what was wrong, he falsely accused the other man of spiking his drink before saying he was going home. The victim tried to calm him down before going into the kitchen to make some food to assist in sobering him up.
He heard nothing more and assumed the defendant had left. Rachel Glover, prosecuting, said: “The complainant lay on his sofa for several minutes before the defendant came into the room and again accused him of spiking his drink before carrying out a sustained assault by repeatedly punching him to the head with both fists, landing at least six blows.
“When he finished punching the complainant he was asked what he was doing and replied “how the hell have you gotten up” before calmly walking away.”
The victim lost two teeth, sustained a black eye, a cut to his head and a laceration to his mouth requiring hospital treatment and the insertion of 12 stitches.
In a victim impact statement, he said: ““This incident has ended the relationship between me and Rob. Prior to this incident I thought we were good friends and I looked forward to spending time with him and now all of that is ruined.
“Due to this incident, I have had to turn down work causing me a financial loss. This is also going have an impact on me socially as due to my injuries I do not want to attend significant family events that I was looking forward to.”
Gibson, 47, of Kelso Drive, North Shields, has 18 previous convictions, including wounding and assault but has not been in any trouble since 2004. He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was sentenced to 18 months suspended for 18 months with 100 hours unpaid work, and a 120-day alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement. He was also ordered to pay the victim £2,000 compensation and was give a two-year restraining order.
Judge Robert Spragg told him: “You falsely accused him of spiking your drink. He did absolutely nothing to deserve the assault you inflicted on him.
“The facial injuries are almost healed but the emotional and psychological impact remains.”
John Wilkinson, defending, said: “I can’t give any reason as to why it escalated in the way it did. The defendant has little or no recollection.”
Mr Wilkinson said Gibson runs two businesses he took over from his father – window cleaning and jet washing. He added: This was an isolated matter.”
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