A MAN from Towyn who caused a man to be hospitalised after punching him outside Kinmel Bay Social Club has been spared jail.

Damien Dawson, 41, of Maes Y Llan, was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment, suspended for a year-and-a-half, at Caernarfon Crown Court today (September 4).

He had previously admitted one charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent.

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Prosecuting, Laura Knightly told the court that, at about 12.45am on August 20, 2022, Dawson approached Jason Queen in the social club; both having been there for several hours that night by then.

Dawson then walked outside, followed soon after by Mr Queen, before the defendant punched him to the face, causing him to fall to the ground.

He walked away, before turning around and pointing his finger at Mr Queen, appearing to shout at him.

Mr Queen said he went outside for a cigarette, and that the next thing he remembered was “waking up in hospital”.

Dawson said that Mr Queen “gave me that much grief” in the social club that night that he ultimately “lost my temper”.

After being taken to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan, Mr Queen was then transferred to the Royal Stoke University Hospital, and was discharged roughly a week after the incident.

The injuries he sustained included bruising on the brain, a haemorrhage, a burst blood vessel, and a fractured right cheekbone.

In a statement, Mr Queen said that the pain caused by his injuries “makes me miserable”, when the medication prescribed to treat them “makes me feel fuzzy”.

He was said to have had lapses in his physical and mental health, and had to take a month off work following the incident.

Defending Dawson, who had no previous convictions, Sarah Yates said that his offence was “committed solely on impulse”.

Dawson, a man “of previous good character”, she said, acted in a fashion that was “completely out of character for him”.

Ms Yates said Dawson suffers from numerous health issues, including Type 2 diabetes, anxiety and depression.

She invited the court to refrain from imposing immediate custody on Dawson, who is unemployed and has just become a grandparent.

Sentencing, Judge Timothy Petts also ordered Dawson to carry out 20 days’ rehabilitation activity requirements.

He accepted that Dawson’s “horror” and “remorse” at his actions was genuine, but told him: “The injuries, and their after-effects, have had a significant impact on his (Mr Queen’s) life.”

Judge Petts instructed Dawson to pay the £187 statutory surcharge to Mr Queen as compensation, rather than to the state.

“I can’t make an order for you to pay unrealistic amounts of money that you don’t have,” he said.