Face of Nottingham thug who broke victim’s cheekbone with single punch

This is the face of Nottingham thug Michael Keeling who fractured the cheekbone of his sister’s ex-partners with a single punch in the street. Earlier this week, the 35-year-old, of Basford, was jailed for eight months at Nottingham Crown Court[1] after he pleaded guilty to assault occasioning grievous bodily harm against the victim. Now, Nottinghamshire Police[2] have released his custody photograph.

Jailing him for eight months on Wednesday, Judge Mark Watson said: “This was an assault on your sister’s former partner and it was their disagreement and one you involved yourself in but I accept it was an unprovoked and spontaneous decision by you when you came to your sister’s aid but as you travelled there you must have had some time to think about it.” Fergus Malone, prosecuting, said the incident took place in Vernon Avenue, Basford,[3] at around 2pm on Sunday, January 28, last year. He said the victim had bought his son a mobile phone and was outside the youngster’s address helping him set up the WiFi connection when his former partner came outside and tried to get their son out of his car.

Do you feel safe in Nottingham city centre? Let us know here[4] The prosecutor said: “She challenged him about what he was doing and kicked the car, there was an argument and she went back indoors. Shortly after (the victim’s) daughter came outside and said to him ‘dad you need to go, mum’s got Uncle Michael coming’ and the defendant then arrived.

“(The victim) dropped the phone and bent down to pick it up when he was suddenly punched forcefully to the face and said he blacked out for a short time.” Mr Malone said the man was taken to the Queen’s Medical Centre where a CT scan revealed a fractured cheekbone. He said Keeling was arrested and answered “no comment” to the questions he was asked.

In a victim impact statement the man said he had to take two weeks off work and everyday actions such as brushing his teeth were painful.The defendant, of Selwyn Close, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and has seven convictions for 15 offences. David Outterside, mitigating for Keeling, of Basford, said: “The last conviction for violence on his record is nearly two decades ago. This was certainly impulsive behaviour rather than premeditated, this was a single blow and there was no weapon used.

“His pre-sentence report reads well and talks about his accepting responsibility. He was remorseful throughout, there was instant regret and shame for what happened and he apologised profusely. “There is a family and a community side to him which are mentioned in his references and his letter to the court.

During lockdown, when most of us were inside protecting our families, he was delivering parcels and helping out in his community.

His mother has back pain and he carries out a quasi-carer role for her.”

The judge also handed Keeling a 10-year restraining order not to contact his former brother-in-law or go to any address he knows where he might be.

References

1. ^ Nottingham Crown Court (www.nottinghampost.com)
2. ^ Police (www.nottinghampost.com)
3. ^ in Vernon Avenue, Basford, (www.nottinghampost.com)
4. ^ Let us know here (xd.wayin.com)