THREE men stand trial accused of assault causing actual bodily harm following what was described as “serious gratuitous violence”.
Kamon Thomas Cubitt, 23, John Wycombe King, 19, and Luke Anthony Whitley, 20, all of Saltney, are on trial at Mold Crown Court following an attack on a man who was working as a electrical maintenance apprentice at Airbus UK at Broughton.
David Alan Mullan told the court he had been punched through the window of his van as he drove through Saltney before he was repeatedly kicked by others as he grappled with his attacker.
Opening the case yesterday, Karl Schulz, prosecuting, said the facial injuries sustained by Mullan were “the consequence of a piece of gratuitous violence that was quite serious”.
Mr Mullan explained how he had been driving his van through Saltney with a colleague shortly before midnight on December 3, 2011.
He said a man had walked into the road waving his arms and punched the van as it drove past.
“I thought he was either being a nuisance or in trouble,” Mr Mullan said.
Cubitt began punching Mr Mullan through the open window after the van stopped and the pair exchanged words.
Cubitt was knocked to the ground when Mr Mullan pushed the door of his van into him as he repeatedly approached the vehicle.
After walking away towards a group of other people Cubitt returned for one of his trainers which had come off when he fell.
By this time Mr Mullan had got out of the vehicle while his colleague called the police.
Mr Mullan told the court: “He picked his trainer up, then he slapped me straight in the face with it.”
He said he was then rugby tackled by Cubitt and Mr Mullan tried to pin his attacker to the ground.
At this point, it was alleged, King and Whitley joined in the attack and kicked Mr Mullan’s head.
Mr Mullan required eight stitches to his lip as a result of the assault as well as suffering bruising and swelling to his face.
“I don’t believe I lost consciousness but I was close,” he said. “I knew I was receiving forceful blows to the head.”
Cubitt, of Moss Grove, pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to assaulting Mr Mullan by beating.
He denies a second charge of assault causing actual bodily harm, as do King, of Park Avenue and Whitley, of Victoria Road, all Saltney.
The trial continues.