Madisons doorman caged indefinitely for crazed shovel attack

1:40pm Thursday 19th November 2009

By Hannah Al-Taraboulsy

A DOORMAN has been given an indeterminate sentence after he brutally attacked a man with a shovel outside a bar, leaving him for dead.

Mark Igoe, aged 34, of Milton Grove, Latchford, pleaded guilty in October to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Frank Pemberton, 55, outside Madisons in Northwich, where he worked, in the early hours of Saturday, April 25.

Mr Pemberton, a steward at the RAOB Club, on Witton Street, Northwich, suffered serious head injuries in the attack, and fell into a coma.

The father-of-two was transferred to a specialist unit at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire for treatment.

He has since made a steady recovery but a Home Office pathologist said the injuries would have been deadly if they had not been treated so quickly.

The victim’s wife, Sandra, was hit on the arm with the shovel, resulting in a six-inch cut that went down to the bone.

Simon Parry, prosecuting, said on Friday at Warrington Crown Court: “Life for Mr Pemberton and his family has been anything but normal ever since.”

A victim impact statement by Mrs Pemberton said: “Even now it is too early to say what lasting effects this will have.

“Every aspect of our lives has changed beyond recognition. I felt like my world was falling apart, I don’t know how I’d have coped if Frank had died. I still don’t know if he will make a full recovery.”

The court heard how Mr Pemberton finished work at the club and met his wife and son, Paul. The trio were walking home and decided to stop for a drink at Madisons, on High Street.

Paul, who had been barred from the club two weeks before, got into an argument with two doormen. Owner John Bates intervened and was followed by Igoe. Paul and Mr Bates walked down an alleyway to the back of the pub and fought each other.

In the meantime CCTV footage showed Igoe, a landscape gardener by day, opening the door to his van and taking out a shovel. He ran over to Paul and Mr Bates, shouting ‘come on’.

Mrs Pemberton added: “He appeared like a man possessed, with anger in his eyes. I told him there was no need for that behaviour.”

She put up her arms in self-defence and Igoe struck her. He then approached Mr Pemberton from behind and hit him on the head.

He slumped to the floor while Igoe fled, driving the wrong way down a one-way street and later dumping the shovel.

Mr Pemberton was taken to hospital, where he underwent surgery to relieve swelling to his brain.

He was in hospital for more than three weeks and told he would never regain the level of health and fitness he once enjoyed.

Igoe was charged with two counts of wounding with intent to commit GBH. He was due to stand trial but changed his plea to guilty at the last minute.

He initially tried to pin the blame on his colleague Andrew Mannering, by stating it was he who had the weapon.

A month earlier, on March 26, Igoe kicked, punched and stood on another man outside Madisons.

“I can’t see any reason why you got involved, this attack was wholly unprovoked.

“It may never be safe to release you from custody and I have a responsibilty to punish you and take the necessary action to protect the public.”

Guy Mathieson, defending, said: “Mr Igoe wishes to apologise for what he did. He knows he’s devastated a family’s life.”