Blackpool, England – A man from Blackpool, Peter Waite, has been sentenced to three years and four months in prison for a violent attack last summer. The incident occurred during a demonstration in Blackpool on August 3rd, where Waite headbutted a man, causing him to suffer a bleed on the brain.
CCTV footage captured the moment Waite ran towards his victim and delivered the headbutt, causing the man to fall backward and hit his head on the pavement. The victim, a man in his 50s, lost consciousness as a result of the attack. In a victim personal statement, the man expressed struggles with sleeping, social isolation, and discomfort in crowded places since the incident.
During the demonstration, which saw hundreds of people gathering, both police officers and members of the public faced physical and verbal attacks. Police vehicles were targeted, items were thrown at officers, and racist and offensive signs were displayed. Additionally, there was significant disorder and looting at the Hounds Hill shopping center.
Waite, 50, admitted to charges of Section 20 wounding and violent disorder. In addition to the headbutting incident, he also threw two plastic bottles retrieved from a bin during the demonstration. Waite claimed he had gone to town for a beer festival and did not intend to engage in disorder, despite his actions.
Assistant Chief Constable Karen Edwards condemned Waite’s actions, stating that his behavior was not welcome in Lancashire and would not be tolerated. She expressed satisfaction with the sentencing, highlighting the efforts to bring those involved in the disorder to justice. Waite’s role in the violent incident and the wider disorder in Blackpool served as a reminder of the consequences of such behavior in the community.