A HEREFORD man has avoided prison despite kicking an unconscious stranger in the head while drunk.

Thai Craft, of Chandos Street, Whitecross, pleaded guilty to assaulting Thomas Morgan, causing him actual bodily harm.

Hereford Crown Court heard on Tuesday how Mr Morgan was crossing the road opposite Franklin Barnes on Commercial Road when he lost his balance and fell, hitting his head.

Witnesses described then seeing Craft, aged 24, walk over to Mr Morgan, who was temporarily unconscious, and kick him hard in the head once “like he was kicking a football”.

Stephen Davies, prosecuting, said that Mr Morgan was left with cuts and bruises to the front of his face, although the court accepted that the injury to the back of the head was caused by the fall and not Craft.

Silas Reid, defending, said that Craft – who had consumed a large amount of alcohol on the day last September – accepts full responsibility for his actions despite not remembering the crime.

“These actions were utterly out of character for him, and Craft feels complete remorse,” Mr Reid added.

Judge Toby Hooper QC said the victim was vulnerable and unknown to Craft, and that this was “entirely gratuitous violence”.

He told the defendant: “You have the potential to be a useful member of society provided you do not let that prize slip from your grasp as you did on this occasion.”

Judge Hooper sentenced Craft to 13 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

He made a supervision requirement of 12 months and ordered him to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and pay £500 in compensation to the victim as well as court costs of £250.

Judge's praise for press reports

THE judge ruling on the case against Craft said he was “moved to comment” on how vital it is that local newspapers continue to report on cases.

His comments came after Craft’s mother had written to the court to complain about earlier press coverage of her son’s appearance.

The Hereford Times is the only media organisation that regularly attends Hereford’s two courts – the crown and magistrates benches – and was the only newspaper to report on Craft’s earlier hearing at Worcester Crown Court.

Responding to the letter, Judge Toby Hooper QC said he wanted to take the opportunity to say “how vital it is to society to have strong local newspapers to advise and inform the public about the things that go on in places and at times which the vast majority of people never associate with at all”.

He added that, thanks to the press, “the public know what their taxes are going on”.