John Culatto
A BRITON savagely attacked a tourist in Gibraltar after being asked to stop vaping at a restaurant.
Joe Collins, 32, began puffing on the addictive device while sat down in the outside area of an eatery in the upmarket Ocean Village.
A Magistrate’s Court heard how a tourist, who was on holiday with his wife, began waving the vapor away with his hand as it began to reach his table.
He asked Collins to stop vaping, to which he replied: “Mate, we’re outside,” before continuing to use the device.
Soon, other customers started to be bothered by the vaping and asked Collins to stop. At that point, Collins became aggressive and started swearing at them, the court heard.
The victim’s wife then said: “I’ve got a son your age. Would your mum or dad be proud of you?” It was then that Collins launched his attack.
“Collins then leapt from his table towards his victim, pushing him to the ground before repeatedly punching his face and head,” the Royal Gibraltar Police said in a statement.
“Due to the victim being wedged in his chair, he was unable to move to defend himself, whilst Collins continued to hit him.”
Members of the public and an off-duty police officer tried to hold Collins back as he continued his attack.
Police officers then arrested the attacker on their arrival and accused him of Assault occasioning Actual Bodily Harm.
Collins’ violent punching left his victim with a fractured nose, grazing to his left wrist and bruises around his right eye and head.
The victim also lost his hearing aid during the attack. Collins was ordered to pay for a replacement hearing aid and his victim’s private medical treatment.
He was handed a two-month suspended sentence and ordered to pay £2,000 compensation to his victim.
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