Man jailed over club beating

Date published: 20 March 2013


A MAN out celebrating his girlfriend’s birthday was beaten viciously by four men at a nightclub.

Christopher Riley (22) was punched by one of the group and fell to the ground, then was hit and kicked by the others, breaking his jaw in two places. He needed two complex operations to insert metal plates and screws and was left with permanent facial numbness and scars.

Manchester Crown Court heard Mr Riley was set on after apparently shouting racist abuse at doormen outside the now-shut down Rififi club in Stalybridge.

Thirty two-year old father-of-two Nadeem Malik pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm in December 2011. he admitted throwing the first punch but not taking part in the subsequent beating.

Sentencing him to 16 months in prison, Judge Maurice Greene told him: “Had you not first punched him, nothing else would have happened.”

He added: “It is also absolutely no credit to you that you have not named the others involved.”

He told Malik, of Kingsley Road, Oldham: “You had taken Ecstasy on the night, and no doubt buoyed up by the drug, and being in a gang of four, you chased him and hit him.”

Riley had been asked to leave the club after a scuffle and was angry. He abused the doormen. A confrontation took place between Mr Riley and the group, which included Malik.

Riley was hospitalised for eight days and has suffered permanent problems and emotional difficulties.