Thug who broke actor’s jaw in unprovoked assault walks free because overcrowded prison ‘would be hard on HIS mental health’

An actor, who was left with a triple jaw fracture following a brutal and unprovoked assault, has ‘completely lost faith in justice’ after his attacker walked free due to his mental health.

Chris Goulding, 33, had been enjoying a night out with his girlfriend when he was set upon by Ben Robertson after walking her home on September 1, 2020. 

A drunken Robertson reigned a flurry of punches down upon Mr Goulding, whilst the actor waited for a bus near Southwark Police Station at around 10.30pm. 

Following the devastating assault, Mr Goulding had four metal plates and sixteen screws installed just to hold his jaw together, with two tubes also inserted into his neck to drain the fluid away. 

The entertainer’s jaw was also wired shut and he was restricted to a liquid only diet for three months, with the attack having a devastating effect on his future career prospects, as well as leaving him with PTSD. 

Ben Robertson (Pictured) launched a devastating and unprovoked attack on the actor  in Southwark in September 2020

Apprentice welder Robertson fought the grievous bodily harm charge but was convicted by jury, however he dodged jail time for the assault. 

Robertson was handed a two-year suspended sentence, with the judge citing his paranoid schizophrenia and overcrowding as reasons.

Since the attack he has served a separate ten-month prison sentence for assaulting his father and has been convicted of offences of criminal damage, possession of an offensive weapon, threatening behaviour, and another assault. 

When Robertson attacked Mr Goulding on Borough High Street in Southwark, three-off duty police officers were nearby and managed to break up the assault.

However, not before clearly seeing Robertson land at least three heavy punches on the lone victim.

Prosecutor Matt Ward told Inner London Crown Court: ‘This was a relatively prolonged assault while Mr Goulding was on the ground and the offence was clearly committed under the influence of some alcohol.’

In his victim impact statement Mr Goulding – who has been unable to work since the incident  – revealed he suffered a ‘life-threatening infection’ nearly losing two stone in weight.

He has also visited Kings’ College Hospital at least twenty seven times due to bone loss, nerve damage and facial numbness.  

Mr Goulding , who was previously a drummer on the London music scene, said he spent long periods of time ‘housebound’ and was ‘physically and emotionally exhausted’ by the ordeal. 

He relied on home nursing visits and twice collapsed during his long recovery, and was also admitted to A&E with heart palpitations.

He has been since signed off work with PTSD, and has been diagnosed with depression, with fears of another public attack looming over him. 

Following the attack, Dan had four metal plates and sixteen screws installed just to hold his jaw together, with two tubes also inserted into his neck to drain the fluid away

The musician says the ordeal has had a devastating impact on his career and life, as he fears another public attack  

Describing his recovery struggles as a ‘horrific catalogue of events,’ Mr Goulding took to the witness box to tell the court he is now ‘resigned to a life of mundanity.’

He has permanent facial numbness, causing difficulty eating and drinking and now dislikes loud and busy places, in contrast to his former live music pursuits.

‘I had a complete physical breakdown,’ Mr Goulding told the court. ‘It has had a devastating effect on my future career prospects.’

He also visited a Harley Street psychiatrist after developing nervous ticks and twitches when stressed, and has been prescribed Valium.

Robertson’s lawyer Laura Stockdale told the court her Doncaster-native client’s once-promising future was ruined by mental health issues and cannabis use, forcing him to quit his Newcastle University degree course after two years.

He has been sectioned multiple times under the Mental Health Act, suffered depression and more recently was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic.

‘At the time of the offence he was homeless, having been kicked out of his home in Doncaster and he did apologise in his evidence for the extent of Mr Goulding’s injuries.’

Robertson has now secured housing association accommodation.

Mr Golding says he was attacked by two men, with only Robertson prosecuted.

The actor says he has a clear memory of being kicked by the defendant and seeing the sole of his trainer coming down.

The trial jury cleared Robertson – who claimed self-defence – of the more serious offence of inflicting GBH, with intent, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Recorder Richards told him: ‘Three off-duty police officers saw you throwing punches. You punched him repeatedly in the face, causing really horrific injuries.

‘Mr Goulding in no way posed any threat to you that night, yet you continued to punch a man who was on the ground. It was a really serious offence.

‘The injuries are extremely serious. A triple-fractured jaw requiring plates and screws to be inserted and straws were inserted into his neck to drain fluids.

‘Your mental health issues played a significant part in your assault on Mr Goulding and you caused grave injury to Mr Goulding that has resulted in a permanent condition.

‘The paranoid schizophrenia diagnosis goes a long way to explaining your conduct that night and you were of good character up to that point.

‘You now appear to have turned something of a corner and started to build a better life for yourself and get your life back on track and have stayed away from alcohol and drugs.

‘The prisons are, as everyone knows, overcrowded at this time and that makes a custodial sentence harder on you, given your mental health.

Robertson was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence after being convicted of GBH by jury (Pictured: Mr Goulding)

Following the outcome of the trial, Mr Goulding said: ‘I have completely lost faith in justice and have lost faith in my country’

‘The pre-sentence report says that you are at low-risk of re-offending and are determined to stay on the right track.’

Robertson was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years and must comply with a two-year mental health treatment order and a twenty-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

Mr Goulding did not remain in court after hearing Robertson’s prison sentence would be suspended and said outside: ‘I have completely lost faith in justice and have lost faith in my country.

‘I am also concerned for the public as we now have a violent paranoid schizophrenic on the streets who poses a danger to the public.

‘He is getting on with life. He’s been given a housing association flat, I can’t get a council flat, he has an apprenticeship and I have had four years of hell and s***.’