Sheffield thug who punched a "drunken" man to the ground and went on to stab another jailed

A thug who punched a “drunken” man to the ground and went on to stab another man while he was being investigated has been jailed.
By Jon Cooper
Published 18th Dec 2020, 12:30 BST
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Sheffield Crown Court heard on December 15 how Emmanuel Oni, aged 27, of Bowden Wood Close, Sheffield, punched the “drunken” man to the ground in Castle Square, Sheffield, after he thought the complainant had been muttering something at him.

Brian Russell, prosecuting, said Oni was with two others in June, 2019, when they came across the complainant who appeared to be muttering and appeared drunk and Oni reacted by punching him in the face.

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Mr Russell added the complainant fell back and hit his head on the pavement and he had to be taken to the Northern General Hospital with swelling and bleeding on the brain which has had a life-changing impact.

Sheffield Crown Court, pictured, heard how a thug punched a man in the street and in a separate incident stabbed another man during a row over drugs. Also pictured is an example of a knife.Sheffield Crown Court, pictured, heard how a thug punched a man in the street and in a separate incident stabbed another man during a row over drugs. Also pictured is an example of a knife.
Sheffield Crown Court, pictured, heard how a thug punched a man in the street and in a separate incident stabbed another man during a row over drugs. Also pictured is an example of a knife.

Judge Jeremy Richardson QC said: “You punched this man with such force and he, as a result of his inebriation, fell back and hit his head on the pavement. The consequence of which was he suffered life-changing injuries.

“He suffered a severe brain-swelling. There were haemorrhages within his brain and he also had to undergo neuro-surgery.”

The complainant was in a coma and now needs long-term care but Judge Richardson stressed that not all the complainant’s difficulties can be associated with the injury he suffered because he has an existing condition.

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While Oni was still under investigation, he had a disagreement with another man in June, 2020, over the sale of drugs and this man visited the defendant’s home.

Judge Richardson said a scuffle erupted during which Oni stabbed this complainant in his hand and back and he needed treatment at the Northern General Hospital for a collapsed lung and a laceration.

Oni, who has previous convictions, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unlawful wounding.

Dermott Hughes, defending, said Oni has expressed remorse and during the first incident he thought the complainant had made a racist comment.

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Mr Hughes added during the second incident Oni sought to defend himself.

Judge Richardson sentenced Oni during a further hearing on December 16 to four years of custody and ordered him to pay a statutory surcharge of £170.

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