Bodybuilder who attacked innocent teenager in cocktail bar avoids jail

Bodybuilder, 29, who attacked innocent teenager half his size in cocktail bar brawl after wrongly accusing him of insulting his mother during family meal avoids jail

• Aimilios Xenos singlehandedly attacked a group at bar Savanah 19 in Cheshire
• Pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm Warrington magistrates court
• Victim Ben Walsh said  he has lost his independence following the attack

A bodybuilder and amateur boxer left an innocent teenager with a broken nose and a broken ankle after he mistakenly accused him of insulting and then manhandling his mother following a family meal. 

Aimilios Xenos, 29, singlehandedly attacked 19-year old Ben Walsh and his group of friends during a brawl in a cocktail bar on May 6 last year.

At Warrington magistrates court, the powerfully built 29-year-old pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily and narrowly spared being jailed.

It was heard how he had been celebrating his birthday with his mum Marguerita and his girlfriend, but challenged the teenage group after believing they aimed derogatory comments at his family.

He initially traded blows with the youngsters but the brawl at Savanah 19 in Culcheth, near Warrington, Cheshire intensified when Mrs Xenos was struck as she tried to stop the fight. 

Following the attack, Mr Walsh, an apprentice jointer, suffered a broken nose, cut lip, a black eye and a broken ankle.

 Aimilios Xenos pictured outside Warrington magistrates court. He was also ordered to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work and pay a victim surcharge

In his statement Mr Walsh said: ‘He started being “aggy” with one of the others in the group and I noticed that there was a bit of an argument. The male then took his shirt off and walked towards us and started shouting, ‘I am going to hit you’ 

Pictured is Aimilios Xenos with his mum Marguerita. The brawl at Savanah 19 intensified when Mrs Xenos was jostled and struck as she tried to stop the fight.

Tragically, he had to give up playing football and delay completing his apprenticeship as a result of the injuries suffered.

In speaking out about how the incident affected him, Mr Walsh later told police: ‘I have lost my independence. He is bigger than me, he is ten years older than me and he lives in the same area as me, I’m scared. I have never experienced anything like this before.’   

At Warrington magistrates court, Xenos pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm and had his prison sentence suspended, but was ordered to pay Mr Walsh £500 compensation.

It was heard that the incident occurred when the victim had been out with his friend at a local pub, and had six pints before the group moved to Savannah 19 where he had ‘one or two gin and tonics.’  

At about 1.30am, the group were outside in the back beer garden finishing off their drinks when they became aware of Xenos.

In his victim statement Mr Walsh said: ‘He started being “aggy” with one of the others in the group and I noticed that there was a bit of an argument. The male then took his shirt off and walked towards us and started shouting, “I am going to hit you.”

‘I said, “I have not done anything” but he then he starts throwing punches. He punched with me with his right hand and hit me directly in the face. I pushed him away with my arms but the man has then gone to the other members of the group.

‘I tried to stop him hitting someone else but he swung a punch at me again. He was hitting out at other people and we all ended up falling on the floor. There was a bit of a struggle on the floor.’

Aimilios Xenos left an innocent teenager Ben Walsh with a broken nose, cut lip, a black eye and a broken ankle after he mistakenly accused him of insulting then manhandling his mother Marguerita following a family meal

Pictured is Marguerita leaving Warrington magistrates court with a friend after the hearing. Her son had been out with her and his girlfriend on the night of the incident on May 6 last year

He added: ‘The male hit me again in the face and I fell back into a bush. 

‘I was able to get up but I could feel something painful in the left ankle. I walked back to the Co-op and police vehicles came.’

In mitigation for Xenos, defence lawyer Michelle Man said that Xenos was out for a family meal and ‘was not looking for any trouble’.

But when the family went to Savannah 19 for a drink, ‘Mr Walsh was present with a number of friends and during the course of the evening some comments were made. He is not sure if it was from Mr Walsh, but he thought it was Mr Walsh and Mr Xenos goes over to remonstrate. The CCTV shows him going across the yard, and speaking to the group and it was a heated conversation.

‘Whatever discussion takes place it is not satisfactory and everybody ends up on the floor. Mr Xenos himself sustained a number of injuries as he was kicked while he was on the floor. His mum and partner come over and try to sort out what is going on but during the course of that the mother gets hit.’

In prosecuting, Mrs Angela Blackmore said that Mr Walsh went to bed when he got home, but in the morning woke up with a bust nose, bust lip and a black eye as well as a swollen ankle, and so went to hospital.

She added: ‘He stated that as a result of the incident he fractured his ankle. He was due to finish his joinery apprenticeship. That was delayed due to not being able to complete the practical element. He took 16 weeks to complete the assessment.

‘He said there was uncertainty about not getting money to pay for his monthly car payments and other commitments due to being on the sick. He was not able to drive or go to work and had to cancel a holiday. He was unable to continue with his activities, playing in a local football team and he was not able to return to the lower league football team due to the ankle injury.

‘As for socialising he was able to go out with supportive friends but he is worried as the defendant lives in the same area. His parents were traumatised and worried about him going out.’

At Warrington magistrates court, Xenos pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm. Tragically, his victim, Mr Walsh, he had to give up playing football, cancel his holiday and delay completing his apprenticeship due to the injuries suffered

Xenos’ defence lawyer said that the matter was reported to police and that same day, Xenos was arrested and interviewed. 

At Warrington magistrates court, Xenos was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years. 

He was also ordered to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work and complete 35 days of rehabilitation with the probation service and pay a £156 victim surcharge.

JP Gillian Beckett said: ‘This was an unprovoked and persistent attack. However, we feel that you have a chance of rehabilitation and therefore we are not sending you to prison today.’

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