A caller punches a 60-year-old man after confusion over the display of flowers

A 62-year-old man was punched in the face while looking at a flower display and taking photos in Bradford’s Centenary Square.

Carl Nevins, who was also ‘high’ on drink and drugs, bizarrely believed his victim had been taking pictures of children in the city center on that sunny July afternoon in 2021. His shocking and unprovoked attack was caught on CCTV footage.

A clip of the single punch that knocked the complainant to the ground was shown during a hearing at Bradford Crown Court on Monday, July 15, as Nevins was jailed for 14 months.

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Prosecutor Richard Walters said the 62-year-old complainant was not known to Nevins and had been walking around the area with his disposable camera. Nevins, who was 34 at the time, approached the man and told him to stop taking pictures of the children, although there was nothing to support his “baseless” claim.

He grabbed his camera and then punched him in the face causing severe fractures to his eye socket, cheekbones and jaw. The injured man managed to get to his feet and was assisted by members of the public and a police community support officer, while Nevins simply left the area.

The claimant was taken by ambulance to Bradford Royal Infirmary where he was found to be suffering from blurred vision in his right eye and a CT scan later revealed that he had suffered facial fractures. Fortunately, the man did not have to undergo surgery and is understood to have made a full recovery from his physical injuries.

Nevins, 37, of Aberdeen Terrace, Bradford, was arrested by police in November 2021 and found in possession of a bag of crack cocaine. He was not charged with any crime until January this year and pleaded guilty to drug possession and one count of grievous bodily harm.

Lawyer Lauren Smith, for Nevins, said he wanted to apologize to his victim and now admitted there was no excuse for his behaviour. She said his completely unacceptable behavior was spontaneous and spur of the moment.

But recorder David Gordon pointed out that even a single blow was capable of causing devastating injuries. He said there was no impetus to the incident and that something clearly disturbed Nevins in his “exacerbated state.”

“You found it entirely false and baseless that the applicant was taking photographs of children,” the judge said.

He said Nevins punched his victim “in the face” and his victim was vulnerable because of her age. Reporter Gordon said the complainant was alone in a place where he had a perfect right to feel safe.

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