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'Decent family men' nearly killed man with 'utterly thuggish' actions at pub

Shaun Black sought revenge against his 'defenceless' victim after he had already been knocked out by co-defendant Christopher Peterson

Two "decent, hard working, family men" nearly killed a man as they "behaved in an utterly thuggish way" outside a pub. Shaun Black sought revenge against his victim after being punched in the face outside the Hare and Hounds in West Derby Village, delivering six savage blows to his head when he had already been knocked out cold by co-defendant Christopher Peterson.

Bystanders had to perform CPR in order to save his life, with the critically injured casualty subsequently spending days in intensive care. A judge today told his attackers as they were spared prison: "He was lucky. You were lucky. This court regularly sees such incidents resulting in much more significant injuries, or even death."

Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Friday July 31, that Black was standing outside the pub shortly before 12.45am on December 7 last year when Thomas Devitt approached the premises. But, when the 40-year-old defendant, of Edge Lane Drive in Old Swan, mentioned to the other man that he had earlier been told to leave and would not be allowed back in, the barred customer was said to have become "irate".

Michael O'Brien, prosecuting, described how Mr Devitt punched Black once to the cheekbone before being restrained by door staff and moved away. CCTV footage then showed him being ushered towards a taxi rank by a man in a pink shirt.

Black was subsequently shown walking in this same direction with Peterson following shortly behind him. The former went on to cross the road in order to approach Mr Devitt, with a scuffle then ensuing between the two men.

Peterson, of Fordlea Road in West Derby, was thereafter seen approaching the melee and punching the complainant once to the head, knocking him unconscious, before walking away. Witnesses detailed seeing Black subsequently punching the other male "at least six more times, if not more" to the face before members of the public intervened and began performing CPR.

Police then arrived at the scene and began giving Mr Devitt chest compressions. Black later remarked to officers: "I'll tell you what happened. He was trying to get in the bar over there and he hit me. I came over and said 'what are you doing?'. Someone hit him. He's been on the floor. I hit him because I've been hit."

Having been arrested, Black added "I hit him when he was on the floor, I'll admit that". Then, after being taken into custody, he further stated: "I know for a fact I didn't hit him first."

Paramedics meanwhile found Mr Devitt unconscious with his face swollen and covered in blood. He was taken to Aintree Hospital with what were suspected to be life threatening injuries and placed on a ventilator, eventually being described as "fully awake" by December 10 before being discharged from intensive care two days later.

Mr Devitt ultimately did not cooperate with the court case, meaning the full extent of his injuries remain unknown. But Mr O'Brien labelled the incident a "prolonged, persistent assault" with a "number of blows to the head" when he was "clearly vulnerable" due to being unconscious on the ground.

[The Merseyside Police scene on West Derby Village after the attack that left Mr Devitt in intensive care]

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The Merseyside Police scene on West Derby Village after the attack that left Mr Devitt in intensive care(Image: Liverpool Echo)

Black, who has no previous convictions, was meanwhile said to have been left with a cut underneath his eye from Mr Devitt's assault, a wound which had to be glued shut and resulted in scarring. His counsel Jason Smith said: "People attest to his hard work, to his love of his family, to the steps he takes to look after his family, in effect, a thoroughly decent man who finds himself before the court to be sentenced, knowing full well that he is looking at a term of imprisonment and in shock for what he did and why he did it.

"It is reassuring, to some extent, that, within the pre-sentence report, it makes abundantly clear that he is remorseful, that he understands what took place and that he has done something about it. Specifically, he has not taken any alcohol since this event took place. He is thoroughly ashamed, and he is doing his best to put this behind him and move on with his life.

"When many people sit back in a situation such as this, awaiting their fate, he has carried on with his life, found employment and supported his family, knowing that he could lose his liberty. For a 40-year-old man with no previous convictions, he dreads that prospect.

"He accepts that what took place that night was inexcusable. He cannot put a direct reason to it. He was assaulted. It goes some extent to explain why he did what he did. He cannot rationalise it, when he had his partner inside the public house.

"What took place was horrific, a man unconscious on the floor and at least six blows, according to witnesses, raining down on that man. Despite the gravity of this incident, the court can stand back and pass a sentence that allows Mr Black to keep his liberty."

Peterson went on to maintain under interview that he had attempted to break up the violence when Mr Devitt told him "you're f***ing getting it", at which stage he "acted in self defence and knocked him out". He has one previous conviction for drink driving from 2019.

Daniel Travers, defending the 43-year-old, told the court: "It is clear there was an interaction between Mr Black and Mr Devitt that caused Mr Peterson to go over. There is already an incident developing when he intervenes.

"Mr Peterson is a man who works. He has always worked. He is in a relationship. These proceedings have been extremely difficult for him. He is not accustomed to coming to court. This is a one-off incident which has affected him deeply. He is extremely fearful how it will impact him, his partner and his adult children."

Both defendants admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, with the prosecution ultimately not offering evidence in relation to an earlier charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent. Wearing a white t-shirt in the dock, Peterson was given five months suspended for 18 months with 200 hours of unpaid work and a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

Black, who wore a black Castore jacket and glasses, Black was handed a 12-month imprisonment suspended for 18 months with 200 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 20 days. He was later seen leaving the building to cheers from his supporters.

Sentencing, Judge Charlotte Crangle said: "You, Shaun Black, have never been in trouble with the courts before and you, Christopher Peterson, only in relation to a drink driving matter some seven years or so ago. It is no doubt completely shameful for you to be before the crown court being sentenced for serious offending of this nature.

"You had both been out socialising in the West Derby area. It seems that neither of you knew each other before, and you had been out separately with your parents or other friends. You also did not know the victim, Thomas Devitt, but he had also been out in the same area. It is clear from what I have seen that he was also in drink.

"You had both been drinking alcohol to perhaps a greater level than you ordinarily would have done. You were seen milling in and around the entrance to the Hare and Hounds pub. It seems that Thomas Devitt was told he was not going to be let in or refused entry. It seems that you, Mr Black, were just talking to door staff.

"Mr Devitt then became what is described by others as irate or aggressive and was insisting on remaining in the area, even when told he was not going to be afforded entry. He then took umbrage with something you said to him when you told him he was not going to get in. Everybody accepts that you did not do this in an aggressive manner. He punched you once to the face, causing a cut to the left cheek that required gluing.

"Door staff stepped in very quickly before walking him away. He was followed by a male in a pink shirt, who was clearly ushering him away. He was later followed by the two of you.

"When he got to the taxi rank, you, Shaun Black, followed. You crossed over the road and went to confront him, no doubt somewhat aggrieved that you had been punched in the face. You did confront him. This led to a scuffle between the two of you.

"Shaun Black, you acted out of character by going and confronting him. You did not immediately launch an attack upon him and were not seeking your vengeance immediately.

"The scuffle then developed, which resulted in you, Mr Peterson, joining in. You launched one punch which was clearly of significant force, which knocked Mr Devitt unconscious. You then walked away, leaving Mr Devitt on the floor.

"You, Mr Black, then sought to take your revenge. You continued to punch and strike what was a defenceless man, prone on the floor. Witnesses describe six blows to the face and head area.

"It took members of the public intervening for you to stop. They administered first aid. It was clear to all that he was seriously injured. He went to the hospital, where he was placed on a ventilator in an intensive care unit for a couple of days.

"He was lucky. You were lucky. You are lucky that you are not dealing with more serious charges. This court regularly sees such incidents resulting in much more significant injuries, or even death.

"You are both described as decent, hard working, family men who behaved in an utterly thuggish way in full view of people standing in a taxi rank, seeking some form of retribution for what had happened to you. It is clear, though, that there is a very different side to both of you.

"Shaun Black, a number of witnesses attest to your hard work ethic and your love for your family. They describe you as a thoroughly decent man. Mr Smith describes you as being in shock about what you did and why you did it.

"You tell me that you have not touched alcohol since. It is to your credit you have recognised that was an issue on that night and you have addressed it immediately. You have been supporting your family. You have moved employment and managed to sustain that employment, notwithstanding what has been hanging over your head.

"In your case, Christopher Peterson, you got involved with something that was nothing to do with you. You launched a forceful blow which left Mr Devitt prone on the ground.

"References speak of a different side to your character. You have not shown, perhaps, the insight that Mr Black has shown in the fact that the alcohol you had taken led to you behaving in this way, but you indicate that your alcohol use is not usually problematic.

"It is accepted that these were, in effect, two separate attacks, separated by moments. It is impossible to say who caused what injury. It is a matter of inference that there were serious injuries caused by the treatment required afterwards and by the fact that Mr Devitt was immediately unconscious as a result of what happened to him."

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