T-shirt IDs birthday street attacker

THUG Dean Bailey had to own up to a vicious city centre attack – because he had his name and date of birth emblazoned on his T-shirt.

He was proudly showing off his age on the back of his top because it was his 21st birthday on September 7.

After a night out drinking in Nottingham, he kicked and stamped on mechanic John Scuthern outside Costa coffee, in Friar Lane.

Nottingham Crown Court heard Mr Scuthern suffered damage to his eye socket and a cut close to his eye.

Bailey had been in the Walkabout bar, in Friar Lane, and wrongly believed Mr Scuthern was the same man who had attacked him earlier.

The court heard there was no evidence of this – and Mr Scuthern and his friends gave a different version of events.

They claimed there was an argument outside after a request for a cigarette.

The attack happened further down the road at 2am, with Mr Scuthern on the floor and Bailey kicking him.

"He [Bailey] was wearing a white T-shirt with his name and date of birth emblazoned across the back of it," said Jon Fountain, prosecuting.

"Mr Scuthern spent two days in hospital as a result of the injuries he received. It has caused his family and himself some distress and they are far more cautious when in the city centre."

Judge Michael Stokes QC, Recorder of Nottingham, said he took into consideration that the case was 11 months old. He told Bailey:"You got involved with someone and kicked him on the ground and caused a nasty injury to his face. You would have gone to prison for nine to 12 months.

The judge said that because of the delay and Bailey's previous good character and guilty plea, he would impose a 40-week sentence, suspended for a year."

Bailey, who admitted wounding, will be subject to a two-month curfew and tagging. He must also pay Mr Scuthern £300 compensation.

Emma Coverley, in mitigation, said Bailey worked for PC Windows, in Hucknall.

"It is a cash-in-hand job, at £40 a day fitting windows. He has worked there for several months. It has to be said, when trade is low he has to be laid off.

"He is a young man and this offence was committed whilst he was heavily in drink.

"Had it not been for that, he would not have found himself on the brink of going into custody for a long period of time. He was out celebrating his 21st birthday. He consumed too much alcohol."

rebecca.sherdley@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk