Sheffield man fractured vulnerable victim’s skull with baseball bat

Lewis O'Brien hit him twice on the head after a confrontation started by his victim, on Lowedges Road, on February 23, last year, said prosecutor David Bradshaw.

"At the hospital the complainant refused to say who was responsible," he said.

O'Brien was arrested on May 6 after "a short chase," and he initially gave a false name and then made "no comment," when he was interviewed.

His victim also suffered a brain haemorrhage, but was in hospital for “a relatively short period of time,” and later made an "excellent recovery," Mr Bradshaw said.

The court heard O’Brien has one previous conviction for wounding, when he was at school, and received a six month suspended sentence for possessing a stun gun, in 2016

Brenda Campbell QC, mitigating, said O'Brien had grown up in recent years, was "undoubtedly remorseful,” and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

"The incident was started by the complainant when without warning he punched Mr O'Brien's companion to the ground," she said.

O'Brien lashed out, she added, but it "was in no way premeditated or born out of any ill will. He regrets, very much, the injury."

The facts of O'Brien's previous convictions meant he had "no significant history of violence," the court heard.

"Had he appreciated how unwell the complainant was, he would have dealt with the incident in a very different manner," Ms Campbell said.

"He has parenting responsibilities. He will not be present at the birth of his third child."

She said his conduct in court and at Doncaster HMP demonstrated he was "genuine, respectful and polite" and was determined not to come back before the court.

O'Brien, 24, of Victoria Street, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm

The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson QC, told O'Brien: "You did not start this episode but you certainly finished it.

"I am very pleased that you are doing as well as you appear to be doing while serving as a remand prisoner."

The judge jailed him for two years and a five-year restraining order was imposed, banning O'Brien from contacting his victim.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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