Thug kicked and stamped on victim's head nine times outside Havant pub

A VIOLENT thug was caught on CCTV kicking and stamping a man's head nine times.

Footage shown at Portsmouth Crown Court showed Connor Harding attacking the victim outside the Six Bells pub in Havant.

Two women were seen rolling on the ground fighting in the shocking incident.

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The victim had been walking and speaking with a group of people before Harding, 21, of Rectory Avenue, Farlington, launched the attack.

He stamped on the victim’s head twice and kicked him seven times on the ground.

Daniel Sawyer, prosecuting, said: ‘Quite unbelievably there were no serious injuries caused.

‘The victim is candid in his statement saying: “I consumed a lot of alcohol and was very drunk”.’

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The victim suffered a cut to his eyelid and his head was painful and swollen after the attack.

Mr Sawyer added: ‘At some time after that the windows of the Six Bells were smashed, at about 1.20am.

‘A member of staff was called back in.

‘He found the defendant down an alleyway.

‘He was saying he would pay £60 for the broken windows.

‘That turned out to be too small by the factor of 10.

‘The landlord said it cost £600 to replace those windows.

‘That appears to have been done because of a grudge he had against the pub.’

The court heard the grudge related to Harding asking pub staff not to let his former partner in ‘because he didn’t like what she was getting up to’.

‘They quite rightly told him where to go,’ Mr Sawyer added.

‘He didn’t like that so he smashed their windows.’

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Harding pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

Sentencing, Recorder Frank Abbott said: ‘Really he should be going to prison but I’m willing to make an order to suspend sentence.’

Addressing Harding he added: ‘This is a most exceptional situation.’

The judge imposed an 18-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

Harding must complete 35 rehabilitation activity days.

Daniel Reilly, defending, said Harding had suffered a troubled background.

He added: ‘He is sorry for what he did.’