Man sentenced to 12 months in prison for bank holiday assault

A 29-year-old man who left a stranger requiring surgery on a double jaw fracture following a serious assault in Daventry has been jailed.

Vinnie Michael Nolan, of no fixed abode, was handed the 12-month sentence after admitting to breaking the man’s jaw in the early hours of Easter Monday (April 1) this year.

Shortly before 1.15am, a fight broke out inside a bar in New Street, Daventry, and spilled onto the pavement with members of the group involved then approaching the victim – a man in his 20s – who was stood outside.

One struck the victim on the back of the head before Nolan swung his right fist and punched him in the face, causing him to fall and sustain the double jaw fracture, which later required surgery.

Nolan then went on to attack a second man, who he again caused to fall to the ground after he punched him, but this time he continued the assault while he was on the pavement.

Following an investigation, Nolan was arrested on April 12, and went on to be charged with one count of wounding/inflict grievous bodily harm without intent.

Nolan pleaded guilty to the charge at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on October 9, and due to the serious nature of the assault, his case was committed to the county’s crown court for sentencing.

On November 19, he returned to the same court where he was sentenced to 12 months in prison and ordered to pay £187 victim surcharge.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Casey McQuade of the West LPA CID team said: “The victim in this case sustained serious injuries which required medical intervention, including surgery, due to the brutality of Vinnie Nolan’s actions.

“I am pleased Nolan pleaded guilty, preventing the victim having to go through a trial, and although the sentence will never make up for the trauma he has been through, I hope it will give him a sense of justice.”

Tackling serious violence is one of Northamptonshire Police’s four Matters of Priority, these also include drug harm, serious and organised crime, and violence against women and girls (VAWG). More details at www.northants.police.uk