Great Paxton man jailed for 'one punch' attack in St Neots
Kieran Napier, 27, has been told by a judge that he's lucky not to be facing a manslaughter charge - after their victim was left with two life changing brain bleeds
A man has been jailed after leaving another with brain injuries following a single punch that knocked him unconscious.
Kieran Napier, 27, of Rectory Close, Great Paxton, was sentenced to one year and 10 months in prison at Cambridge Crown Court. Napier attacked his 27-year-old victim in Market Square, St Neots, at around 3am on Saturday, 19 March 2022. The victim fell to the ground and sustained two brain bleeds after hitting his head.
Judge Grey, during sentencing, told Napier, “You may not feel lucky at the moment, but you are. If you had seen what can happen when people hit their heads, then you would realise how close to manslaughter you came.”
Napier fled the scene with his girlfriend and a friend but was arrested six months later at Gatwick Airport following a police wanted appeal. Initially denying he was at the scene of the incident, Napier later changed his plea to guilty in August.
The victim spent three days in hospital, but further complications from the brain injuries resulted in his re-admission.
Detective Sergeant Sharon Burrell commented, “This sentence reflects the severity of this crime and is a stark reminder that a single punch can have disastrous and devastating consequences for everyone involved.”
Judge Grey also remarked on the prevalence of alcohol-fuelled violence, stating, “Drunken violence of this sort is far too common. People have the right to go out and enjoy themselves without unexpected violence.”