Colchester: Tom Jones concert-goer knocked out in one-punch attack

Phil Whiting, 58, had left a Tom Jones concert hosted in Colchester’s Castle Park, in July 2019, when he became embroiled in a confrontation.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard Whiting’s victim, a fellow concert-goer, was in a lengthy queue for a taxi outside McDonald’s on Colchester High Street.

Whiting asked the victim: “What’s your problem?”, before lashing out with a punch after he lost his temper.

The victim was knocked unconscious when his head hit concrete.

He suffered hairline fractures to his skull, small haemorrhages and was left with temporary hearing loss in one of his ears.

He was referred to a neurosurgeon.

CCTV captured the incident and also showed Whiting walking away from the scene with his wife.

Recorder Simon Mayo QC said Whiting had avoided an immediate prison term “by a hair’s breadth.”

After describing the attack, the judge said: “You then, together with your wife, walked off.

“Afterwards, there was some disgraceful behaviour not only by yourself but by your wife in my judgement, effectively repeating threats to anyone who challenged you to remain at the scene.

“This was on any view, a disgraceful and dangerous course of conduct.

“I and many other judges sitting in these courtrooms unfortunately have to deal with circumstances not far removed from those in this case, where a single punch leads to the death of a victim.

“I hope in saying those words you appreciate just how dangerous a single punch can be.”

Steven Dyble, mitigating, said his client handed himself in after a CCTV appeal and pleaded guilty to a charge of causing grievous bodily harm at the first opportunity.

Whiting, of High Street North, West Mersea, was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He must complete 300 hours of unpaid work and will be subject to a curfew between 8pm and 6am for six months. Whiting must also pay £5,000 in compensation to the victim.