Matthew Watkins of Ringwood handed suspended prison sentence at Southampton Crown Court after knocking man unconscious with single blow

A MAN was warned by a judge he had come close to being sent to prison after he knocked a person unconscious with a single blow in a New Forest pub.

Matthew Watkins (23), of Manor Road in Ringwood, admitted one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm following the attack on 20th January.

Prosecutor Gary Venturi showed CCTV footage from the incident to Southampton Crown Court and explained there had been a “heated discussion” between friends of Watkins and others.

As the row spilled outside the Ringwood pub, Watkins was seen to deliver a single blow to an older male “out of the blue”, knocking him unconscious and causing him to hit the ground, where he lay motionless.

In a statement to police, the victim said he had no memory of the incident. He had been left with severe recurring headaches for around two weeks after the attack, which had impacted his self-employed income.

In a victim impact statement which was read to the court, he added: “I have only recently started going to venues to enjoy a drink and I deliberately go to pubs where I know the individual involved is known to be barred.”

Watkins has one previous similar offence, the court heard, for battery in 2019, for which he received a conditional discharge.

Defending, Keely Harvey said Watkins was full of “regret and remorse” over the incident, and having had time to contemplate it was “quite shocked at the effect one punch can do”.

“What he did that day has frightened him,” she added.

He was unaware of what the initial altercation had been about, but acted on impulse, without thinking, she explained.

No further kicks or blows were made while the victim was on the ground, she added.

She urged Judge Peter Henry to give Watkins credit for his guilty plea, and said he had a supportive family and secure employment.

“He is 23 years old and perhaps still has a bit of growing up to do,” she added.

Handing him a nine-month sentence, suspended for two years, Judge Henry told Watkins: “You may be only 23, but you should know better.

“The picture on the video is all too familiar – young men going out, thinking they are big, hard men and confronting people over absolutely nothing.

“This was an impulsive act on your behalf and it was quite a blow. What you’ve got to understand is, even a single blow could end up with you being charged with manslaughter and a jail sentence.”

He added the incident had a “significant” impact on the victim, adding: “There is absolutely no justification for what you did.”

Watkins had been “sensible” in pleading guilty and expressing remorse, Judge Parker added, which had persuaded him not to send him straight to custody.

He must undertake 150 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation activity sessions, and pay his victim £500.