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Jail for man who punched cyclist, leaving him partially blind and with fractured jaw and eye socket

Daniel Martin McInerney pleaded guilty to GBH following assault in Bournemouth in May

A man who punched a cyclist, partially blinding him, has been jailed for 28 months.

Andrew Ntiamoah also sustained a broken jaw and eye socket when he was attacked by Daniel Martin McInerney in Bournemouth earlier this year.

The assault happened in the Dorset resort’s Lower Gardens at around 0130 hours on 31 May, reports the Bournemouth Echo.

McInerney, aged 30 and from Northolt in northwest London, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court last Thursday after admitting causing grievous bodily harm.

Mary Aspinall-Miles told the court that Mr Ntiamoah had been cycling home from a night out when the attack happened.

He was riding through the park at around 5mph when he passed a group of people, whom she said split apart as he rode through.

 “One of the group shouted ‘Oi!’, the victim turned around to see what the issue was,” she said.

“There was a verbal confrontation between the victim and one of the group.

“Whatever that verbal exchange was, when the victim and McInerney were in close proximity, it is plainly and obviously McInerney who is aggressive.

“Whilst he is backing away from the group, the defendant without any real provocation punches the victim hard and full-on to the face.

“Understandably he stumbles back and is pushed to the ground by this defendant. The defendant punches him again with great force and precision.”

Mr Ntiamoah, who was knocked out, is now partially sighted in his left eye and had a metal plate inserted in his jaw as a result of the attack.

In mitigation, Jonathan Underhill said that his client, who has previous convictions for robbery and battery, was “disgusted in himself,” and that he had expressed remorse for what had happened.

Handing down the sentence, however, Judge Brian Forster QC said that an “immediate sentence of imprisonment” was the only option in the circumstances.

“This assault was totally unnecessary,” the judge said. “Your first blow knocked him backwards, the blow has been described as being hard and full-on.

“The victim was punched again when he was in a vulnerable position.

"As a result of the incident, the victim sustained serious injuries.

“What took place has had great effect on his confidence and has affected other members of his family,” the judge added.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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9 comments

Avatar
chrisonabike | 2 years ago
7 likes

The shocking thing (to me) is that had he just run the cyclist over this violent chap would have had a better chance of escaping punishment and even if convicted might have got out of jail at the same time or quicker.

Avatar
marmotte27 | 2 years ago
2 likes

Mitigation? Really?

Avatar
hmas1974 | 2 years ago
5 likes

From Bournemouth Echo

'He said McInerney was remorseful for the attack and wanted help addressing his problems'

As per eburtthebike's comment, I reckon chemical castration would be a mutually beneficial solution.

Avatar
eburtthebike | 2 years ago
13 likes

"In mitigation, Jonathan Underhill said that his client, who has previous convictions for robbery and battery, was “disgusted in himself,” and that he had expressed remorse for what had happened."

Mitigation?  No; just stop taking the piss.  He's a violent bully and 28 months is far too short.  Spaying might be a good idea; don't want the little savage passing on those genes.

Avatar
OldRidgeback replied to eburtthebike | 2 years ago
6 likes

Maybe I'm cynical but I wonder if the remorse is related to the fact that he was caught and is being punished rather than to the permanent harm he caused to another human being for no reason.

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brooksby replied to OldRidgeback | 2 years ago
3 likes

I think that holds true for most offences: not particularly sorry about what they did; sorry they got caught and punished.

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Moist von Lipwig replied to brooksby | 2 years ago
0 likes

This was just a sentencing hearing, without knowing the history.

Caught by the police = not remorseful

went to trial = not remorseful

handed himself in = possibly remorseful

pleaded guilty to charges and no trial = possibly remorseful

Avatar
wycombewheeler replied to Moist von Lipwig | 2 years ago
1 like

Moist von Lipwig wrote:

This was just a sentencing hearing, without knowing the history.

Caught by the police = not remorseful

went to trial = not remorseful

handed himself in = possibly remorseful

pleaded guilty to charges and no trial = possibly remorseful

"after admitting causing grievous bodily harm" suggests he did in fact plead guilty.

Avatar
iandusud replied to OldRidgeback | 2 years ago
0 likes

OldRidgeback wrote:

Maybe I'm cynical but I wonder if the remorse is related to the fact that he was caught and is being punished rather than to the permanent harm he caused to another human being for no reason.

Ooh, what a cynic you are. 

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