03 November 2023 , 09:10
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A "thuggish" dad flew into a rage and slammed a shop worker's head into a fridge when he refused to sell his 13-year-old son an energy drink, a court heard.
Stephen Brown, 38, stormed into the off licence on Breeze Hill, Walton, Liverpool, and attacked the male staff member, slamming his head into a fridge and punching him in the face on September 25, 2020. The man, of Norris Green, had flown into a rage when he found out the shopkeeper had refused to sell his child the caffeine-laden drink, which is commonly restricted to over-16s in shops.
Brown appeared at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to assault causing grievous bodily harm. Prosecutor Frances Wilmott said the victim was working in the shop when the boy entered, picked up an energy drink and threw the money on the till.
However, the shop worker stopped the boy as he thought he was 11 or 12 years old, the court heard. The boy's mother then entered the shop and the worker explained he could not sell her son the drink, so she took it away and was given the money back. But a short time later, the worker was attacked by the boy's father who smashed his head into the fridge, the court was told.
Ms Wilmott said: "Later, while the victim stood on the shop floor, the defendant (Brown) came into the shop, grabbed the victim by the back of the head, smashed his head into the fridge, and then punched him to the face. The victim moved to the back of the store and was followed by the defendant, who was shouting abuse."
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The shopkeeper suffered a broken eye socket, nose and cheek bone, and was left with blurred vision, permanent numbness in his face, headaches, and scarring, reports the Liverpool Echo. Brown, who has 24 convictions for 64 offences, initially denied the attack but pleaded guilty before a trial.
David Watson, defending, said: "He barged into the shop and, with both hands, pushed the victim's head into the fridge and either threw a punch or attempted to throw a punch. Nothing whatsoever could justify that behaviour and the defendant knows it. He has indicated that he would wish to apologise to the victim and, if he were given the opportunity, to write a letter."
He said Brown's son, now aged 16, was "displaying serious behavioural problems and causing serious problems" for his parents, adding: "The defendant acknowledges that he as a role model has been appalling." He said: "He has a number of background issues. There have been traumas in his life starting when he was very young, when he saw a friend drown, and moving on from that he got involved in the wrong crowd.
"He led a life so different to his siblings, and different to how his parents would have wanted. He describes himself as the black sheep of the family and he has been a source of concern for them. In 2017 he was the subject of a stabbing and he has serious ongoing health issues with cysts, which cause him, on a regular basis, real problems. He also suffers with mental health issues."
Sentencing Brown, Judge David Aubrey said: "You have simply taken exception to the fact that the shopkeeper, within his rights, would not serve your son, and so it was for that you grabbed him on the back of the head, smashed his head into the fridge and punched him to the face. Thereafter, you left the shop still in a rage, shouting abuse.
"Because of that thuggish behaviour, the shopkeeper sustained extremely serious injuries that are likely to impact on him for the rest of his life." He sentenced the dad of two to two years and four months in prison and handed him a restraining order banning him from the Breeze Hill off licence for five years.