A HERO who stopped a baseball bat attack on two women committed a violent assault himself only hours beforehand.
Colin Gwyn Johnston, 19, was awarded a Crown Court commendation after saving the lives of two students who were attacked by 15-year-old girls.
Yet hours earlier on February 28, Johnston had drunkenly punched Michael Hamill, 19, from Blacon, to the floor then began kicking him in the head, bursting his eardrum.
He launched the attack after falling out with his parents who he lived with on Morton Road, Blacon.
Johnston and his sister Leanne, 21, then intimidated Mr Hamill, threatening him with violence if he gave evidence against them.
John Oates, prosecuting, said: ‘You are a bully and on the day of the incident your bullying went further. You were in a bad temper, you were drunk and you assaulted him. You are a dishonest and violent person and a liar.’
On April 12, Johnston went to the Spar shop, Blacon, asking for a message to be passed on by Mr Hamill’s mother telling him to change his statement. He also threatened to send people round to attack him if Johnston went to prison.
On April 16, Leanne Johnston saw Mr Hamill and swore on her children’s lives she would rip his face off if her brother went down.
Mr Hamill told the court: ‘I was a little bit frightened – it made me want to withdraw my statement.’
Colin Johnston denied kicking Mr Hamill, speaking to his mother and said he liked Mr Hamill. He also said Mr Hamill was exaggerating the attack.
Johnston said: ‘He was just there at the wrong time. I’m ashamed of myself.’
On Monday Johnston was found guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm .
Both defendants were found guilty of perverting the course of justice. They have been bailed for sentencing on October 12.
