Halifax town centre bouncer jailed after man's horrific brain injury

A judge today (Friday) said Mohammed Akbar’s “judgement and patience” failed him when he forcefully pushed the inebriated complainant away as he made repeated attempts to get back into the Circle Lounge on Commercial Street during a night out.

Bradford Crown Court heard that after being pushed, the man stumbled backwards, hitting his head on a nearby lamp post and falling to the ground.

The complainant’s partner read a victim impact statement to the court in which she described how he had to be admitted to the intensive care unit at Leeds General Infirmary and also spent some time at the Daniel Yorath brain rehabilitation centre.

“The impact on our family as a whole has been devastating,” she told the court.

She said the fork lift truck driver was unlikely to be able to work again and the family were “grieving for someone who was still alive”.

She said her partner had been the backbone of the family but his brain injury now made him a different person to the one she had fallen in love with.

Akbar, of Swires Road, Halifax, was found guilty by a jury of inflicting grievous bodily harm and jailed for 20 months

Barrister David McGonigal, for Akbar, said it may be of little consolation to the victim and his family but his client, who had no previous convictions, was remorseful.

“He did not intend this to happen and it is something that will live with him as well,” he added.

He said Akbar, who has a degree in business management, had led a blameless life until the incident last year.

Judge Ahmed Nadim said Akbar had been keeping an eye on the complainant after allowing him entry to the bar.

The judge said when the man came out again he was showing all the signs of being inebriated and when he tried to go back in Akbar refused him entry.

“You quite properly refused him entry by reason of his state of intoxication,” said the judge.

Another customer had told the man to “go home” but the judge said because of his alcohol consumption the complainant was not ready to take no for an answer.

“At this stage you pushed him with some force to prevent him entering the premises,” the judge told Akbar.

“In passing sentence there is nothing this court is able to do that sets the clock back and restores to (the complainant) the health that he once enjoyed.

“And the reality is that there is no sentence that the court is able to pass that in the judgement of some members of his family would be proportionate to the impact that has been visited upon him and those who care for him and depend upon him.”

The judge explained that he had to apply the sentencing guidelines and was dealing with Akbar on the basis that the brain injury suffered was “an unintended consequence” of him failing to do his duties as a doorman properly.

He said Akbar had dealt with the complainant appropriately initially, but added: "You allowed, on the final occasion, your judgement and patience to fail you.”