Salford Man jailed for GBH after causing significant facial injuries

Today (10 November 2023), Douglas Joyce (35) of Quayside Close, Salford was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court to 19 months in jail for causing grievous bodily harm (s 20 GBH). He pled guilty at an earlier appearance on 22nd September 2023.

On the 23rd of October 2022, at around 10:00pm, a 78-year-old man was seriously injured in an assault inside a pub on Thomas Street.

The victim's testimony and CCTV evidence pointed to Douglas Joyce being primarily responsible for the man’s injuries and he was arrested and charged with section 18 assault.

Joyce followed the victim into a back room and began shouting and pointing at him, before punching him in the face three times and knocking him off his seat and into the seats next to him, causing him bleeding.

Joyce continued to stand over the victim in a threatening manner and encouraged another man to punch him too.

When the victim stood up, Joyce launched one extremely hard left punch to the victim’s face, causing him to propel backwards over the table and chairs behind him. Joyce continued to stand directly over him, leaning into him still shouting and pointing, before making one final punch to the victim’s face whilst he was helpless on the ground.

Detective Constable Natalie Hollows said: “Joyce is an aggressive and violent man who intended to intimidate and inflict pain on a vulnerable 78 year old man by carrying out this horrendous assault.

“Joyce was wearing a large gold pyramid-style ring when he punched the man in the face, causing him significant injury due to the size and shape accelerated by force and the series of punches he endured.

“I’m glad Joyce will now face time behind bars as punishment for his actions and hope he takes this time to reflect on the impact of his actions.”

The second man involved in the assault was also sentenced to 18 month community order for assault causing occasioning actual bodily harm.