Formby man of “impeccable” character gets suspended sentence following Southport town centre attack

Mar 31 2010 by Chloe Griffiths, Formby Times

TWO “impeccable” young men - one of whom was from Formby - who punched and kicked another man were spared prison.

Judge John Roberts told Philip Tattersall, 22, and Christopher Cunningham, 21, it was a tragedy they were before Liverpool Crown Court for the attack on Richard Power in Southport town centre.

He said: “I don’t believe either of you will see the inside of a court again.

“Certainly I hope that each of you will be able to achieve your ambition of joining the Royal Air Force.”

Liverpool Crown Court heard the two friends had been out in Southport and were going home on June 7, last year, when they were approached by Mr Power close to a taxi rank on Lord Street.

Sarah Holt, prosecuting, told how there had been an earlier incident in a club and a confrontation broke out.

Cunningham punched Mr Power several times, while Tattersall also threw blows before kicking him while he was on the ground.

Witnesses described Mr Power briefly losing consciousness and being covered in blood.

Judge Roberts said: “He will, no doubt, have been terrified, as would anybody who saw the scene in the middle of Southport town centre.”

But the judge showed mercy to the pair after hearing they were both hard-working young men with no previous convictions and had admitted the affray.

He also heard from the president of St Mary’s Old Boys rugby club in Crosby who spoke highly of the pair.