Attack case judge hits out at 'drink culture'
A JUDGE has hit out at a 'culture of excessive drinking' after a sailor nearly blinded a colleague in an horrific attack.
Charles Smart was part of a group of navy personnel who were downing pints of beer and shots of sambuca and vodka on a night out from HMS Collingwood in Fareham.
But the boozy evening ended in agony for Royal Fleet Auxiliary engineer Sam Wait, who nearly lost an eye in the unprovoked attack.
It comes after police in Portsmouth launched a crackdown on drink fuelled violence in response to recent assaults.
The 21-year-old victim, who was punched, kicked and stamped on, says he may now have to leave the merchant navy.
Portsmouth Crown Court heard Smart had attacked Mr Wait because he thought one of his friends, Daniel Consertine, had insulted him.
Mr Wait, who was so badly beaten his father didn't recognise him, said: ‘He smashed me round the head and then kicked me and stamped on me.
‘I tried to run away but he grabbed me and beat me unconscious and the next thing I remember is waking up in hospital.
‘I don't know what's going to happen to me, I could lose my career. I got my head kicked in for nothing.'
Mr Wait's left eye has sunk 4mm and he still has to have regular check-ups to see if it has got any worse.
He said: ‘There's absolutely nothing behind my eye now, it's just a hole. When it's windy I can feel the wind behind my eye. I could still get double vision.'
Both groups of friends had been to see an Oasis tribute band in Fareham in May last year when Smart followed Mr Wait back to HMS Collingwood and attacked him inside the base.
Mr Wait, who had been walking home alone after his friends left without him, was found unconscious in a pool of blood.
Trainee submariner, Smart, 22, who gave his address to the court as HMS Collingwood, denied a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm but was found guilty after a trial.
Graham Arnold, defending, said Smart faced being discharged from the navy and was extremely sorry for what he had done.
Jailing him for two years Recorder Donald Tait said: ‘This was an unprovoked attack and a sustained attack on Sam Wait.
‘You kicked and stamped upon Sam Wait once he was on the ground.
‘This offence comes against a background of a culture of excessive drinking and we heard the evidence of the sort of amounts that people had drunk that night.
‘You accepted that on a scale of one to 10 you were about eight or nine. You had been drinking beer, vodka and sambuca.
‘You were intent on exacting revenge on Daniel Consertine over a perceived slight in the pub.
‘I don't know how it happened but Sam Wait became the target of your drunken aggression.
‘When you are in drink you turn into an animal and that's exactly what you were on the night of May 14 last year.
‘That will have consequences for your future naval career. That is your fault I regret to say.'
THE police say people need to take responsibility for their drinking.
Portsmouth's alcohol related violent crime and licensing team works with the council and pubs and bars to tackle the problem of booze fuelled fights.
But Sergeant Wendie Douglas said: ‘We can only do as much as we can do because ultimately it's down to individuals taking responsibility for themselves.
‘If this is how alcohol makes you, if it turns you into a drunken, violent yob, then you have a problem with alcohol and it's getting people to recognise that fact.'
The Royal Navy defended its policy on alcohol abuse. A spokesman said: ‘The Royal Navy, which draws its personnel from society at large, takes the abuse of alcohol very seriously. The demands of the modern Navy are incompatible with excessive alcohol consumption.
‘To provide a strong deterrent, the penalties for being drunk, whether on or off duty, are high.
‘The Royal Navy implements its alcohol policy through a programme of education, supervision and control. Education includes encouraging personnel to drink and behave sensibly whilst off duty.'
Attack case judge hits out at ‘drink culture'
Personal responsibility is the key, say police
He smashed me around the head and then kicked me and stamped on me
Victim Sam Wait
Sailor nearly lost
eye in vicious and unprovoked assault
by GARETH BETHELL
Court reporter
gareth.bethell@thenews.co.uk
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Portsmouth
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
