A teenager from Douglas has received a suspended sentence after he broke a 16-year-old stranger’s nose in an unprovoked attack.

Wiktor Pszczolkowski, of Hawarden Avenue, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and was sentenced to 22 weeks’ custody, suspended for two years.

The 19-year-old must pay £1,000 compensation to his victim and was banned from purchasing or being sold alcohol for six months.

We previously reported that, on January 11, the victim was walking with a group of people down Tynwald Street in Douglas at 6.45pm.

The group saw hotel worker Pszczolkowski emerge from a side alley and cross the road towards them. He was stumbling and staring at the victim as he approached.

The group crossed the road to try to avoid Pszczolkowski but he followed them walking behind them.

Witnesses described Pszczolkowski as looking ’completely out of it’. He was said to be ’wide-eyed’ and ’glaring’ at his victim.

The victim said he felt Pszczolkowski grab him from behind and turn him around before starting to punch him in the chest and stomach.

The victim tried to push him away but Pszczolkowski continued his attack striking him on the nose. A woman was said to have courageously pulled Pszczolkowski off the victim and he fled the scene.

A few minutes later the group heard a man screaming and saw Pszczolkowski with his shirt off outside Spar in Bucks Road. The screaming was coming from Pszczolkowski and he was subsequently arrested.

The victim was found to have a broken nose, which resulted in him having to undergo corrective surgery.

Advocate Paul Glover said his client had no previous convictions. He referred to a probation report which cited a relationship breakdown as being at the root of Pszczolkowski’s behaviour.

’The breakdown of the relationship is no excuse for his actions,’ said the advocate. ’He has learned a valuable lesson of drinking alcohol responsibly. He is shocked by his actions.

Drunken violence

’He had no previous knowledge of the victim.’

A probation report assessed Pszczolkowski as a low risk of reoffending and of harm to the public.

The teenager was said to have consumed half a bottle of whisky before the attack and had no recollection of the incident.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said: ’This was a completely unprovoked attack and repeated punches to the face and body, stopped only because of the intervention of a passer-by.

’Those who indulge in acts of drunken violence such as this on any street in the Isle of Man can usually expect a sentence of immediate custody.’

But Mrs Hughes said she had taken into account Pszczolkowski’s young age, his lack of previous convictions, his guilty plea, and his demonstration of remorse and that she was satisfied that this was a one-off incident.

Pszczolkowski must also pay £125 prosecution costs.