Teen who caused man catastrophic brain injury after landing single punch jailed

A teenager who left a stranger with a catastrophic brain injury after landing a single punch in a street attack has been detained for three and a half years.

A judge rejected a plea to spare Jackson Bennett a jail term after his violent crime led to life-changing results for his victim.

Lord Arthurson said Bennett has expressed remorse, has a good employment history and a pro-social lifestyle.

But he told Bennett, now 20, at the High Court in Edinburgh that, in the whole circumstances, he had concluded a custodial disposal was required for a crime which had truly catastrophic consequences.

Lord Arthurson said, “The impact of your crime on him has been life-changing.”

The judge said that after the assault, rather than calling for help, Bennett walked quickly away from the victim.

Bennett’s victim was placed in a medically induced coma following the attack on Aberdeen’s Union Street, which left him with facial fractures, a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain.

The attacker, who was then aged 19, hit the stranger once with his left fist after following the older man during the incident after midnight on August 11 last year.

The court heard that the force of the punch rendered the man unconscious as he fell backwards and hit the back of his head on the pavement.

The attack was captured on CCTV, and footage of the victim collapsing to the ground was shown to the court previously.

Bennett, of Westhill, in Aberdeenshire, earlier admitted assaulting the man, who was aged 31, to his severe injury, permanent impairment and disfigurement and to the danger of his life.

The victim underwent a tracheotomy and spent three months in hospital after the attack. At first, he was unable to talk or walk because of his injuries. He suffered hearing loss and requires medication for seizures. He is currently unable to drive, the court heard.

The victim was out socialising with his partner and friends in Aberdeen city centre. Bennett was also out with his friends. Before the attack, they were unknown to each other.

Just after midnight, the man and his party were walking on Union Street, returning to their hotel, when they passed Bennett and his group, and words were exchanged between the pair.

They came face to face, and the victim’s partner told him to walk away, which he did. Bennett followed him for a short distance, and the victim turned to speak to him when the attacker struck.

The victim’s partner went to the stricken victim with another female witness who saw blood coming from his ear and nose. Emergency services were contacted.

Police identified Bennett, who was arrested at his home address.