A karaoke singer was knocked out and fell from the stage when a customer who thought he was “taking the mick” punched him in the face, before finishing his pint and leaving the bar.
Terrance Daniels suffered several injuries including a broken rib, an injured cheek, bruising and psychological damage as a result of the unprovoked attack.
Scott Lyon, 32, later told police he “took a swing” at the victim, who had been singing at Coco's karaoke bar in St Helens, as he thought he was being mocked for not being in employment.
Retired Mr Daniels went home after the attack but later went to St Helens' walk-in centre where an x-ray found a tooth had pierced the inside of his mouth.
Liverpool Crown Court this week heard he returned a few days later because he was in so much pain and a CT scan revealed he had a rib fracture and he was prescribed pain killers.
In an impact statement Mr Daniels, who is retired, told how he had been badly shaken up and suffered painful injuries, Liverpool Echo reported.
He said his face was swollen for seven weeks and his cheek was left scarred. He had to return again to hospital as his rib injury led to a lung infection which could have turned into pneumonia.
He also suffered nightmares, anxiety and panic attacks.
Judge Stuart Driver said the incident happened because the defendant had not been taking medication for his long-term mental health problem.
The court heard he was hospitalised under the Mental Health Act between June and November and is now taking his medication.
Lyon, of Harris Gardens, St Helens, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm.
Judge Driver. said: “You caused serious harm to a completely innocent man who was doing no damage to anybody when he was cheerfully singing on the karaoke."
“You misunderstood what he was singing about due to your long-term mental health condition… You have schizo-affective disorder and had not been taking your medication.”
He sentenced him to six months imprisonment suspended for 12 months and ordered him to carry rehabilitation activities for 25 days.
