A man who broke the nose and jaw of a Watford security guard has been ordered to pay him £6,000 in compensation.
Richard McNulty, 37, launched the attack on the man who had stopped his girlfriend on suspicion of shoplifting from Marks and Spencer.
Prosecutor Martin Mulgrew told St Albans Crown Court the woman left the store at around 6pm on July 19, 2018 and was intercepted by the guard.
He said: “She called the defendant on her mobile phone saying ‘They have got me come quickly. He is pulling my hair.’”
CCTV was played to the judge showed that the security guard had not pulled her hair. McNulty came running from behind Cafe Nero and hit the guard to the right side of his face, causing him to fall to the ground. He kicked him on the ground and punched him again.
Mr Mulgrew said his suffered a fractured jaw, broken nose, bleeding in the eye and a loss of smell. He lost consciousness for 10 minutes and requires £5,000 worth of dental work.
When arrested McNulty said he thought his girlfriend was being attacked and that he acted in anger.
McNulty of Camfield Road, St Albans pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm. His plea of not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent was accepted by the prosecution. He had a previous conviction for robbery from 2005 and one for abusive behaviour in 2012.
John Lamb, defending, said: “It was a very nasty incident, but it was over two years ago.” He said his partner was vulnerable at the time, but he recognised his approach was entirely wrong.
Mr Lamb said McNulty, who is a director at an auction business, cared for his elderly parents and had kept out of trouble since the attack which was over two years ago.
Judge Michael Simon told him; “What you did was shameful and unacceptable – something you accept.
“The victim was simply doing his job. He was employed to keep others safe and to prevent loss to company.”
The judge passed a 24 months jail sentence suspended for 18 months. McNulty must carry out 15 rehabilitation activity days and 150 hours’ unpaid work. He must abide by a 3 month electronically monitored curfew between 9pm and 7am.
He ordered him to pay the victim £6,000 compensation and to pay £750 prosecution costs within 12 months.
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