Groom injured as wedding turns into brawl

What should have been the happiest day of Trevor McDonald and his bride Kerry O'Rourke's lives turned into a real life wedding from hell as wellwishers turned nasty and a mass fight erupted.

The trouble spilled out from the reception onto the streets where Anthony Fulthorpe, 19, punched then kicked Mr McDonald unconscious after attacking another guest.

One witness to the attack on the groom said: "Each of the kicks appeared to be as hard as possible, as if he was kicking a football."

Mr McDonald had to undergo surgery and have metal plates fixed to his skull after suffering severe facial injuries which included a fractured eye socket and broken nose.

It was feared the 32-year-old could have lost his sight for good and if the blood pressure builds up behind his injured eye he could still be at risk.

He now has trouble focusing and has a blind spot which will be with him for the rest of his life.

Instead of jetting away to sun-drenched Turkey Mr McDonald spent his wedding night in hospital with is tearful new bride at his bedside.

The jobless couple from High Heaton in Newcastle had saved hundreds of pounds for their romantic ceremony at Newcastle Civic Centre in front of thirty friends and family.

Guests returned to their home for the speeches and reception with a home made buffet.

But as the drink flowed trouble flared and Mr McDonald ended up unconscious and can remember very little about what should have been his special day.

He said; "It was the wedding from hell.

"It should have been a memorable day but I can't remember much about it."

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Fulthorpe attacked Mr McDonald when he saw him involved in an altercation with his half sister.

Prosecutor Mark Guiliani told the court: "He punched Mr McDonald who ran off and was chased.

"Mr McDonald is caught up by the defendant who punched him with a very forceful blow which caused him to fall to the ground.

"His head was on the ground and he just lay there.

"As he does so the defendant is seen to kick him two to three times.

"One witness to the incident said 'he started kicking Trevor in the face and head at least two or three times. Trevor could not defend himself, I think he may have been knocked out when he hit the ground after the punch.'"

Fulthorpe, from Hazeldene Avenue in Kenton Bar, Newcastle, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr McDonald during an earlier court hearing.

He also pleaded guilty to a charge of common assault in relation to another guest Darren Carlisle.

Mr Carlisle was also chased and battered by Fulthorpe and had to jump down a steep embankment to get away.

Mr Guiliani told the court: "The defendant had pulled off his shirt. His shirt was completely ripped off his back and he was just left with the cuffs of his shirt."

Defence barrister Peter Walsh said Fulthorpe had gone "over the top" when he saw Mr McDonald involved in an altercation with a female guest due to his "unfortunate background".

Mr Walsh added: "The defendant accepts he does find it very difficult, more difficult than most, in dealing with situations where violence is used against women.

Mr Walsh said Fulthorpe has been working as a labourer and attending college one day per week to enhance his skills.

Judge Esmond Faulks sentenced Fulthorpe to two years behind bars.

The judge told him; "You saw the groom having an altercation with one of his half sisters. The result of which was she ended up on the ground and you intervened on her behalf.

"In your drunken state you thought it was a good idea to punch the groom and then you chased and caught up with him and knocked him to the ground where you proceeded to kick him in the head.

"Your actions caused Mr McDonald to suffer a fracture of the right eye socket which required him to have a serious operation carried out.

"He now has lasting and permanent damage to the right eye. He has permanent damage to his vision. "That is all as a result of you going 'right over the top'."