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NEWLYN fisherman Brian Harrison was given an
indeterminate prison sentence for the protection of the public at Truro
Crown Court on Thursday and was told he must serve a minimum of six
years before the Parole Board can consider when he can be released.
Harrison,
27, of Treveneth Road, Gwavas Estate, Newlyn, punched and kicked last
New Year's Eve a fellow local fisherman who he thought had raped his
partner.
His
victim, 43-year-old Neville Dunn, is in a minimally conscious state in
a neurological rehabiliation unit and, in the opinion of a consultant,
is likely to remain severely disabled and brain damaged for the rest of
his life.
Harrison
was acquitted of attempted murder by a jury following a four-day trial
earlier this month but was convicted of having intentionally inflicted
grievous bodily harm.
The
court heard that after attacking Mr Dunn Harrison dragged him into his
car and, as he drove him towards West Cornwall Hospital, he threatened
to kill him with an axe, which his partner's 17-year-old sister took
from him and threw out of the car window. He then punched Mr Dunn in
the stomach as he lay unconscious on the back seat before throwing him
onto a pavement and kicking him, in the words of a witness, “like a
football”.
Harrison claimed that in a confrontational situation he honestly
believed he was about to be attacked and had acted in self defence.
“It was a vicious, sustained attack which has resulted in serious brain injury,” said Judge Christopher Elwen.
“You
have 10 previous convictions for violence, using a spanner to inflict
wounds in 1998, thrusting a glass into the face of your victim in 2003,
and headbutting a policeman.
“You have many other less serious offences of violence arising from drink or drugs.
“This is a serious escalation of your violent behaviour.
“I have no doubt you are a dangerous offender and that there is a risk of your committing further offences.”
The judge added that the 204 days Harrison had already spent in jail on remand would count towards his sentence.
article copyright THE CORNISHMAN
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