[kellyhound]

This is the sickening moment a teenage thug knocked a stranger unconscious in a nightclub after wrongly accusing him of dancing with his girlfriend – before casually returning to finish his drink.

Andrew Mason, 29, was left in a coma for 10 days and with a fractured skull after Maxwell Banbury, 19, stormed up to him and punched him in the head at Fever & Boutique in Barnstaple, Devon.

In CCTV footage now released of the incident, Banbury can be seen walking up to Mr Mason and striking him in the head before returning to his table and finishing his drink.

He then quickly leaves the club, apparently telling door staff: 'I saw him feeling up my girl'.

Andrew Mason, 29, was left in a coma for 10 days and with a fractured skull.

Maxwell Banbury, 19, was handed a 16-month suspended prison sentence for the 'totally unprovoked' attack on Andrew Mason

Mr Mason, from Braunton, Devon, is still suffering neurological damage from the attack, which occurred at about 2.30am on March 15.

Police said the attack was 'totally unprovoked with no justification whatsoever'.

'The severity of this assault shockingly illustrates how a single punch can cause very serious injuries – and the consequences of this attack could have been much worse.'

He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours' unpaid community work and pay £1,000 compensation to Mr Mason when he appeared at Exeter Crown Court.

The court heard how Banbury launched the attack on Mr Mason after mistakenly believing he was dancing with his girlfriend Laura Hawksworth.

In a police interview, he apologised for the attack and said he 'saw a total red mist' and 'lost my rag'.
He later wrote on Facebook: ‘Of course I never meant to do what I did. It was a stupid decision.’

The single punch to Mr Mason's head knocked him to the floor of the dancefloor and witnesses said he was 'bleeding from the ears and mouth'.

He was taken to North Devon District Hospital for treatment but was later transferred to the intensive care unit at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, where he spent 10 days in a coma.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Mason said that his life had become 'a living nightmare' and he was terrified of suffering from seizures as a result of the attack.

Judge Francis Gilbert, QC, said he was able to suspend Banbury's sentence because he was satisfied the attack was completely out of character.

He said: 'The figure of £1,000 compensation is completely nominal, given the very serious damage you did to him.'

[ludokressh]

I hope that girlfriend gets away from that idiot ASAP. Completely out his character, my ass. He sat there as if obsessively watching his girl and as soon as someone got remotely close to her he immediately gets up and punches him.

[mexx]

his girl is dirty council estate trash like he is - £10 bet on it ;P!!

she bumped into that dude, he was drunk himself and from I can see held on to her to stop him/her falling - then that caterpillar for eyebrows twat sucker punch him... real tough guy!! shes banging your mate now oh well hope she was worth it muhaha!!

[Steve]

He cared so much about his girlfriend (property) that he drank up and left like a good little coward.

[darkredspyder]

Someone needs to give that judge a good punch to the head. That guy deserves a much harsher sentence, out of character or not.

[Pyramid_Head]

Out of character my hairy ass! He didn't hesitate at all and was just waiting for someone to interact with her.

[Douggie]

The fucker was grabbing his girlfriends ass. I would have put the fucker in a coma too.

[Sypher209]

Originally Posted by Douggie ↗

The fucker was grabbing his girlfriends ass. I would have put the fucker in a coma too.

film it so we can laugh at you when your ass is sentenced as bubbas new play toy.

[ices]

Thats a 19 years old? lol

He is on that roid time or drugs of some sort. He looks like shit. ***** you 30!

[TexasTea2008]

The guy on the bottom left is just standing there not giving a shit.