A man who punched another man unconscious in Luton town centre late at night has been jailed for 10 months. Jerry Godt broke the right eye socket of his victim in two places and the man’s eyeball was pushed back by the force of the blow.
Sentencing Godt at Luton Crown Court on Thursday, June 26, 2021, Judge Steven Evans told him he was fortunate that his victim had not been more seriously hurt.
The judge told the 25 year old he could quite easily have ended up facing a “one punch manslaughter” charge.
Godt who was of no fixed address at the time of the assault, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm.
The court heard the attack took place in the early hours of August 18 last year as the victim made his way across Library Square in Luton town centre. Prosecutor Jessica Clarke said a number of men were sitting on steps in the square and the defendant was part of the group.
Miss Clarke said the victim recognised someone he knew in the group and went across to say hello. She said Godt who had been drinking became aggressive towards the man telling him “I am going to knock you out.”
Miss Clarke said the victim backed away saying he didn’t want any trouble, but Godt threw a punch hitting him in his right eye. She said the defendant moved away, but then returned hitting the victim again with a single, forceful blow which knocked him to the ground so that he banged his head on the concrete steps and was left unconscious.
The court heard the defendant and the other men left the scene, but one did remain and called the emergency services. After a few minutes the victim regained consciousness and felt severe pain in his right eye and large lump on the back of his head.
Judge Evans was told police arrived on the scene and were able to locate the defendant nearby having been assisted by town centre CCTV operator who had tracked his movements.
An ambulance took the injured man to the Luton and Dunstable Hospital where his swollen and bruised right eye was examined.
It was discovered he has sustained two fractures to the eye socket and had blurred vision. His eye ball had been pushed out of place and had dropped down. Judge Evans was told the victim had to undergo surgery followed up by numerous hospital appointments.
As a result of his appearance he had even avoided contact with his young children for fear of frightening them. As well as the physical impact the court heard the man had suffered emotionally, suffering nightmares and flashbacks.
He had found himself wary about going out in case something similar happened again. Paul Jones defending said Godt was now remorseful for what he’d done that night and had moved away from the Luton area to live with his partner in Flodden Way, Stockton-on-Tees.
Mr Jones said when he asked his client what he thought of himself last August, he got the reply: “I thought I was scum, so I behaved like scum.”
The barrister said Godt had had a troubled young life finding himself homeless in his late teens. The judge told Godt that only an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate and he jailed him for 10 months.
