A man who launched an unprovoked attack that left another man needing surgery for two bleeds on the brain has been jailed.
Connor Walker, 29, of Park Road in Durham, was sentenced to 22 months imprisonment having pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm.
The court heard how on Saturday 6 September, just after 6pm, Walker was walking through the portico of York railway station towards the entrance.
As he passed by two British Transport Police officers, he began to briefly shadowbox aggressively and loitered for a moment before leaving the station.
Only a few minutes later, Walker returned to the station and walked past the front where the victim, aged in his 40s, was standing with a friend. He then left again.
Walker returned once more, this time entering the station. He clenched his right fist and threw a punch at the victim, causing him to drop to the floor instantly.
Walker then exited the station in a hurry, looking over his shoulder before running away.
The victim was knocked out, taking two minutes before coming to consciousness again. He was taken to hospital where it was established he’d sustained a fractured skull and two bleeds on the brain which required urgent surgery.
British Transport Police (BTP) launched an investigation. The following day, on Sunday 7 September, officers from Northumbria Police viewed the image BTP had sent around of Walker and recognised him.
Two days later, officers from Durham found Walker in the town centre and arrested him for grievous bodily harm with intent, and he was taken into custody.
Investigating officer DC Sam Killerby said: “I’m extremely pleased with the result in this case – Walker’s unpredictable and volatile actions were disgusting and it is only by sheer luck that the victim wasn’t more seriously injured, or our investigation could have been very different.
“Violence, unprovoked or otherwise, has absolutely no place on the railway network and we will continue to act quickly and decisively to secure justice for the victims.”
