Mathematician left in coma after thug launched savage attack outside City cocktail bar

Jailed: Etienne St Clair was jailed for 15 months following a trial at Southwark Crown Court
City of London Police
Jamie Bullen22 September 2016
WEST END FINAL

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A “vicious” thug put a brilliant mathematician in a coma following a row as he waited for a taxi outside a City cocktail bar.

Etienne St Clair, 32, of Worcester Park, punched IT strategist Daniel Dinneys in the face and then kicked him as he lay unconscious as a result of a row outside Dirty Martini near Bank station.

Mr Dinneys, a mathematician who worked in banking security, required brain surgery and still has seizures as he continues his rehabilitation more than a year after the horrific attack.

St Clair, who works as a team leader for London nursing agency Mayday Healthcare according to his LinkedIn page, was sentenced to 15 months in prison at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday after his conviction for GBH without intent.

The court heard Mr Dinneys was on a night out celebrating his girlfriend’s birthday on June 6 last year when St Clair approached friends at around 2am as they waited for a pre-booked taxi.

After the group rejected his advances, St Clair turned his attention towards the victim and punched him in the face causing him to fall backwards and hit his head on the pavement.

Scene: The attack took place outside Dirty Martini, near Bank station
Google Maps

St Clair began kicking Mr Dinneys as he lay unconscious on the ground before he was dragged away by a friend. He later fled the scene in a taxi.

He was arrested after staff at the cocktail bar approached police to say they witnessed the attack, with St Clair identified on CCTV.

When interviewed, St Clair claimed he was acting in self-defence and the victim started the altercation.

In addition to his sentence following a trial, St Clair was also ordered to pay £5,000 compensation to his victim, £3,000 court costs, and a victim surcharge.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, Mr Dinneys said: “I will never be able to play football with my children. I will never be able to drive again.

“I often feel excluded. I feel my friends rarely invite me to events – possibly because of a fear of my chance of becoming ill. I have to be careful not to take part in anything where I would be at risk, including sports my friends take part in – further excluding me from my friends.

“My mood is more sombre and I’m less communicative. My outlook for the future is full of uncertainties, fears and unknowns. I feel this is out of my control.”

Detective Constable Colin Calvert from the City of London Police Major Crime Team said: “This vicious attack was a harrowing ordeal for not only the victim, but also his friends and family.

“His life has been changed considerably as a result of the injuries he suffered at the hands of Etienne St Clair and I hope this verdict will bring them some comfort that justice has been served.

“We are fortunate in the City of London that violent attacks of this kind are extremely rare, but this case should serve as a warning that we will always do everything in our power to identify anyone responsible for this kind of offending and bring them before the courts.”

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