A sentence of more than two years in jail has been handed to a man who attacked a stranger while he was sat on a bench in Cliftonville.
On Tuesday, July 3, 2018, Paul Clancy walked up to his victim just after 2pm and headbutted him before punching him several times in the face.
The victim, in his 40s, was sitting on a bench in Northdown Road talking to other people at the time of the attack. A man held out his arm to try to stop the violence and Clancy left the scene.
The victim didn’t know Clancy or the reason for the attack but had seen him earlier in the day as he passed by a friend’s flat. He was left with a fractured eye socket, chin and cuts that required stitches.
The incident was reported to Kent Police and Clancy was identified. He was arrested on August 19, 2018 and later charged with wounding.
Clancy denied the offence but was found guilty by a jury at Canterbury Crown Court on Wednesday,August 7 this year. He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison the following day at the same court.
Investigating officer DC Kerry Whiting said: “The victim has been seriously shaken up by this incident and left fearful following the trauma. This was a completely unprovoked attack and there can never be an excuse for such violence.
“Thankfully Clancy will now face time in prison for his actions.”
