THREE young Bradford men have been punished for their involvement in an episode of early-hours street violence which left a man with with a cracked jaw.
Thomas Hoddy and Lewis McTasney got involved in a fight with two other males in the Halifax neighbourhood of Crown Street when they were out celebrating their friend Pharrell Ezadkhast’s recent eighteenth birthday.
CCTV footage of the incident, which occurred on New Year’s Eve 2022 at around 5.30am, was shown before a judge at Bradford Crown Court.
When the group confronted his friend, the complaint was seen on camera attempting to diffuse the situation. As he walked away down the street, he raised his hands to show that he did not want any trouble.
However, Hoddy headbutted the victim after Ezadkhast had shoved him in the chest, and McTasney then delivered what prosecutor Philip Adams called “a cheap shot” to the side of the victim’s head, catching the complainant off guard.
The complainant was knocked down by a single blow, and the CCTV recorded the moment he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
After being transported by ambulance to the hospital, the injured man’s jaw was discovered to have sustained bilateral fractures. In order to stabilise the injury, he needed to have metal plates implanted during surgery.
The complainant claimed in a victim impact statement that he was now left with a scar that made him feel self-conscious and that he now felt uneasy when he was out socialising.
In connection with the “joint enterprise” assault, McTasney, 19, of Gaythorne Terrace, Bradford, and Hoddy, 20, of Green Lane, Bradford, both acknowledged to having caused grievous bodily harm.
Ezadkhast, who was formerly of Royd Street in Bradford and is currently 19 years old, entered a guilty plea to a charge of making threats.
All of the accused had no prior convictions, and since December 2022, none of them had been involved in any other legal issues, according to information provided to Judge Colin Burn.
According to what the court heard, Ezadkhast moved to the northeast and was distraught by what had occurred to the plaintiff.
James Holding, Hoddy’s attorney, said that his client only became involved after noticing a disturbance and realising that “alcohol and bravado” had taken control.
McTasney’s attorney, Barrister Ella Embleton, stated that her client was immature at the time of the incident and that it was out of character.
According to her, McTasney exhibited real contrition and was willing to participate in a restorative justice programme that allows victims to confront defendants about their acts.
Judge Burn stated that the three defendants, who were all minors at the time, had been “worse for wear” after drinking that evening.
He said the CCTV footage had been “a depressing watch” with Hoddy for example dancing around on his toes, drunk and up for some violence. “I’m quite sure when you went out on the night in question that wasn’t something any of you had in mind but these things happen when people have too much to drink,” the judge told the trio. Ezadkhast was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 180 hours unpaid work for the community.
About The Author
