Michael Coyle, 41, and Keith White, 38, hugged a 66-year-old man before punching and kicking him unconscious during a night out in Liverpool city centre. The victim fled to a nearby hotel for help and now says he no longer feels safe in the city and is considering moving away from Merseyside.
Attack Details
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Paul McCann had been out drinking with friends on October 30 last year. Around midnight, he encountered a homeless woman in a wheelchair, Cheryl Driver, near HSBC on Lord Street. Coyle and White were with her. CCTV showed White hopping on one foot before approaching Mr McCann and hugging him. The retiree pushed him away and gave him a slight slap to the face.
Coyle then pushed Mr McCann and punched him several times. White grappled with the complainant, swinging him around and leaving him on the floor. The pensioner was briefly knocked out after being kicked on the ground.
Aftermath and Victim Impact
After regaining consciousness, Mr McCann fled to a nearby hotel for assistance, and staff called the police. He attended hospital with pain and bruising to his ribs, which he suspected were broken, but left due to long waiting times and needing to care for his dogs.
In a statement read to the court, Mr McCann said: "My confidence has been shattered. I no longer feel safe in the dark. I will not enter Liverpool city centre. I'm considering moving to another part of the country." He added that he suffers from COPD and was in "agonising pain" when coughing.
Defendants' Backgrounds
White, of Hey Green Road in Wavertree, has 35 previous convictions for 50 offences, including robbery in Ireland, unlawful wounding in 2022, and burglary in January 2025. His defence said he has been drug-free in custody and faces leg amputation. Coyle, of Prescot Road in Old Swan, has 16 convictions for 21 offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm in May 2025. He has a history of substance misuse and homelessness.
Sentencing
Both men admitted affray and were jailed for six months each via video link from HMP Liverpool. Recorder Eric Lamb said there were no grounds to suspend the sentence. Cheryl Driver, who also faced a robbery charge, had no evidence offered against her.
