Violent thug who stamped on unconscious man in Blackburn jailed

A man who stamped on an unconscious man in Blackburn has been sent to prison.

On the evening of 22^nd February this year, the victim had walked to the Polish Shop on King Street, Blackburn.

CCTV footage showed him sit on the pavement next to a car for around six minutes and then use the car to pull himself up.

John Moir approached the victim, along with two as yet unidentified men who came out of a nearby Shisha Bar.

Moir then punched the victim to the side of his head knocking him to the floor.

The victim got up and attempted to run away. However, one of the unidentified men chased after him, hit him twice to the back of the head, causing him to fall forward into a vehicle and straight onto the floor.

As the attack continued, and while the victim was still on the floor, Moir kicked him to the head two or three times.

One of the unknown men then started to drag the prone victim down the street and away from Moir. However, Moir returned to the victim and kicked him in the head a further two more times whilst he was lying unconscious on the floor.

A few minutes later a further five unidentified men left the Shisha Bar and walked over to the victim who was still lying unconscious on the floor. Moir kicked the victim three more times.

The victim managed to get back to his feet, but as he was stumbling away one of the unknown men hit him. Moir then returned and hits the victim a further 11 times.

As the victim attempts to get away from the group for the third time, Moir assaulted him again.

As a result of the attack, the victim suffered fractured eye socket and a fractured nose in two places.

Moir was arrested and charged with Section 18 wounding.

He pleaded guilty to the offence at Preston Crown Court earlier this year and returned to the same court where he was jailed for seven years and two months and given a further four year extended licence period.

In his statement to the court, the victim said: “After the attack I have been suffering with stress and anxiety. I am scared to go out on the streets in the evening, it seems very dangerous to me, and I am scared I might be killed.

“Physically, I have problems with my eyesight. I went to see an eye doctor and I was told that the nerve next to my eye is damaged and it is painful when I look to the left. I got a concussion and I still have headaches. I can’t sleep at night because of the headaches. I also have pain in my chest. I have problems breathing and a pressure in my chest which is worse when I do physical work.”

DC Lee Swales, of Blackburn CID, said: “This was a sickening attack on a wholly innocent man. Despite his best efforts to escape Moir, the victim suffered around 40 separate blows – some while he lay on the ground unconscious. In many ways Moir is fortunate he was not stood in the dock facing a murder charge.

“I welcome the sentence handed down to Moir, who is an extremely violent individual and someone who represents a significant risk to members of the public.”