Shamal George, 26, was the victim of an unprovoked attack by Ross Gardner outside the Red Door bar in Liverpool city center in 2019. Gardner also attacked George’s brother Lloyd Smith during the incident. Gardner, 35, was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm but fled the UK with his trial looming.
He remained at large while a European arrest warrant was issued. However, he was arrested upon his return to the UK in April 2021 to attend a family funeral. He was initially handed an 18-month prison sentence but stayed in Spain with his family, claiming threats had been made against them.
Gardner’s defense lawyer, Martyn Walsh, stated that Gardner returned to the UK for a family funeral, leading to his arrest. According to Sarah Griffin, the prosecutor of Gardner’s trial, CCTV footage showed Gardner punching the brothers before being pulled away. Lloyd Smith described the aftermath of the attack, saying that his brother was on the ground, bleeding and unable to see out of his eye.
Both brothers received stitches, and the attack left George unable to train or play for a month. George expressed his fear during the incident, stating that he thought he was going to be killed and that he had not anticipated such violence during a birthday celebration. Gardner’s sentencing was initially delayed due to his fleeing the UK, but he has since been brought to justice for the assault, and he now understands that he must face the consequences.
