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National
Sonia Sharma & Rob Kennedy

See how horrific attack in Wallsend left man 'unrecognisable'

These photographs show the horrific injuries suffered by a man after a brutal attack.

Philip McCardle was left "unrecognisable" after being assaulted by Colin Walton in Wallsend in June last year.

The pictures have been released by Northumbria Police after Walton, 36, of Shields Road, Newcastle, was jailed for four years for inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Walton launched a sustained and repeated assault on his victim in front of two young children.

Mr McCardle, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, was left with a punctured lung, fractured ribs and extensive bruising and a judge said he couldn't recall a case where the injury photographs of a victim were so different to his usual appearance.

Recorder Keith Miller told Walton: "In 28 years sitting as a recorder, I find it difficult to recall a case where the photographs of a victim have been so different to the victim's appearance once they have got over the injuries.

"He was rendered unrecognisable by you and that, in itself, must have been frightening for the children. It must have been terrifying for them to see anyone beaten and kicked in that manner.

Colin Walton (Northumbria Police)

"As a result of the injuries he suffered, broken ribs and a collapsed lung, his condition deteriorated, he had difficulty breathing. A deterioration took place even when in medical care and despite the high level of oxygen given to him.

"Had he not received medical treatment promptly, you might have been facing a much more serious charge.

"This was an outrageous and brutal attack. I find it very disturbing there were two children aged five and nine present."

The court heard the two men were known to each other and in the days before the attack, Walton's daughter said something to her dad about Mr McCardle's behaviour which led to him deciding to "take the law into his own hands".

He phoned him to tell him he was coming for him and then encountered him on Tynemouth Road, Wallsend.

Walton was driving a car while Mr McCardle was walking with a woman and her two grandchildren, aged five and nine, on their way for Sunday lunch.

Recorder Miller said Mr McCardle was short and only weighed about eight stone while Walton was six foot and heavy set.

"You punched him around the head as he tried to protect the five-year-old," the judge said.

"You dragged him to the ground and kicked him in the ribs and face.

Philip McCardle was badly injured in an attack in Wallsend (Northumbria Police)

"The photographs of Mr McCardle which were provided in a court showed a man who appeared to bear no resemblance whatsoever to the man who came in to give his evidence."

In a statement to the court, made eight months after the attack, the victim said: "I'm still struggling with the injuries caused by Colin Walton when he attacked me.

"The cold weather means I'm in constant pain in my chest and I've had several chest infections over the last few months.

"I still rarely leave the house, I'm suffering from anxiety and I'm finding it difficult to get over the fear of being attacked again."

As well as the four-year prison sentence, Walton was given a seven-year restraining order.

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