A MAN who was knocked unconscious while celebrating his wedding anniversary in York has said he could have been killed and has condemned his attacker’s punishment.

Dad-of-two Alan Shaw, 42, was about to go home after a pleasant evening in York city centre with his wife and partner for 20 years, Louise, when stranger Joshua Iain Lacey, 22, felled him and knocked him unconscious.

The blow broke Mr Shaw’s jaw and he had to spend weeks with his mouth clamped shut, only able to eat liquid foods. Five months later, he still suffers pain inside his mouth and needs dental repair work.

Lacey, who has a previous conviction for causing actual bodily harm, admitted causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Shaw but was given a suspended sentence.

Mr Shaw, who lives in Pottery Lane in Heworth and works as a plasterer, said: “I think it is absolutely disgusting. It is saying to people, basically, you can go up to town, you can get drunk, you can hit someone for no reason, knowing all you are going to get is a little fine and a slap on the wrist. If I went out and hit a person, I would expect to go to prison.

“It has been a very traumatic time for me and my family. The only good thing that has come out of it is that he didn’t kill me. I could quite easily have been killed. I could have been disabled.

“I just feel he is not going to learn from what he has got.”

The Shaw family had to abandon their plans for a Christmas holiday and Mrs Shaw’s outfit was ruined when one of Lacey’s group threw a kebab on her.

Lacey, of Ellen Way, New Waltham, Grimsby, was given a six-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, on condition he does 18 months’ supervision, goes on an alcohol treatment programme and pays £500 compensation to Mr Shaw, £425 prosecution costs and a £100 Government surcharge.

Mr Shaw said the £500 compensation may not even pay for the dental work he needs.

The couple had gone into a takeaway in Tanner Row for shelter from the weather in the early hours of November 25, while they waited 45 minutes for a taxi home.

Michele Stuart-Lofthouse, prosecuting, told York Crown Court Lacey’s group was also at the takeaway and got involved in a food-throwing incident. Outside, Lacey tried to hit a woman around the time the Shaws also left. Lacey then hit Mr Shaw.

The couple were “in the wrong place at the wrong time”, said Miss Stuart-Lofthouse.

For Lacey, Richard Hackfath said his client had been covered with food thrown by the woman he accosted outside. She had attacked him and, angered by the incident, he attacked Mr Shaw.

“He had lost his cool,” said Mr Hackfath. Lacey accepted his attack on Mr Shaw was unprovoked.