Man left cousin with devastating brain injury after punching him outside a bar
Man left cousin with devastating brain injury after punching him outside a bar
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A football fan has been spared jail after a single punch caused a life-changing brain injury to his cousin. Mark Wyatt punched his cousin Anthony Robson while they were out drinking following Sunderland FC’s last match of the season in May 2024, after post-match ‘banter’ turned into an argument.
But the force of the blow caused Anthony to fall backwards onto the road, causing two bleeds on the brain which led to surgeons removing 40% of his skull during life-saving surgery. Anthony spent two-and-a-half months in hospital, including four weeks in intensive care, before being transferred closer to his home in Leicestershire for more rehab.
![[Members of the media outside Newcastle Crown Court where Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers are accused of felling the Sycamore Gap tree. Both men deny causing criminal damage to the tree, valued at ?622,000, and ?1,114 damage to Hadrian's Wall. Picture date: Monday December 9, 2024. PA Photo. The sycamore, which featured in the 1991 Kevin Costner film Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves, was cut down overnight between September 27 and 28 2023. Hadrian's Wall, a Unesco World Heritage Site, was hit by the tree when it was felled. See PA story COURTS SycamoreGap. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_232580646-28a1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
A self-employed business owner and fitness fan, he told Newcastle crown court he can no longer work, drive, or enjoy time with his family in the same way as before. Anthony added he now has problems with his hearing, sight, balance and mobility, and the injuries have ‘destroyed’ his hope of retiring to Thailand and travelling one day.
Prosecutor David Robinson-Young said the cousins had been out with friends in Sunderland after the football match last May 4, adding: ‘It would appear that all concerned had been drinking into the evening when some time after 7pm the group engaged in what has been referred to as good humoured banter.
