A father of two who was paralysed after being viciously beaten in an unprovoked attack in a Co Down restaurant, has said he forgives the man who has left him in a wheelchair for life.

Joseph Nelson was hospitalised for six months and is still recuperating in a care home after the violent attack in December last year.

His attacker Alexander Moore, 37, from Kilmood Church Road, Killinchy, pleaded guilty at Downpatrick Crown Court earlier this week to causing grievous bodily harm with intent in an incident in a Chinese restaurant in Killyleagh.

CCTV footage from inside the restaurant shows Moore punching Mr Nelson, 54, knocking him to the ground and then standing on his neck.

Mr Moore is now a tetraplegic with steel rods in his neck holding his spinal column in place.

The Killyleagh man, however, said he does not hold any malice towards his attacker.

“My life has been ruined so why should somebody else's life be ruined? What has happened to me is awful but why should I spend my time feeling bitter? It would eat away at me. I just have to get on with it,” Mr Nelson told the Belfast Telegraph.

Mr Nelson was attacked when he called into the Chinese restaurant after a night out in Killyleagh last December. While he was there he spotted Moore, whose father had just died, and went over to pass on his condolences. The next thing Mr Nelson can remember is waking up in hospital.

“I couldn’t move and for some reason I couldn’t breathe. There were doctors everywhere and I didn’t know what was going on. The police came and showed me CCTV footage of what happened but I couldn’t believe I was looking at myself. It is as if my mind has blanked it all out. As far as I know it (the attack) was completely unprovoked. I have no idea why he did it,” he said.

Mr Nelson was in court this week to see Moore admit to violently attacking him. He is due to be sentenced next month.

“I am glad he pleaded guilty so I didn’t have to sit through a trial. I don’t want him to spend the rest of his life in jail for what he did to me. I have a life sentence, but why should somebody else’s life be ruined? Whatever sentence he gets I will still be like this.

I don’t want him to spend the rest of his life in jail for what he did

“My legs don’t work, my hands don’t work. I can’t walk and I used to love going out for walks. I was always very active. But there is nothing else for it but to try and remain positive and get my life back together.

“I am hoping to move back home to Killyleagh in the New Year. My home is just being adapted at the minute for me. All my family and friends are in Killyleagh and it will be nice to get some independence back,” he said.

After the attack a number of people in Killyleagh organised events to buy an electronic chair for Mr Nelson.

“I have had a lot of support and that helps keep me going. I just get on with things the best I can,” Mr Nelson added.

The attack on Mr Nelson is just one of a number of vicious assaults across the province that have sparked serious public concern over violent crime.

It emerged earlier this year that on average more than 600 violent crimes — including assaults, sex offences and robberies — are recorded by police every week.

The PSNI has insisted that violent offences across Northern Ireland are decreasing with recent police statistics showing that violent offences dropped by over 10% in 11 months

Recently, Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde said that while he fully understands that these figures will be “of cold comfort to victims of crime and their families”, they do show “the commitment of my officers and staff to making all communities safer”.

Belfast Telegraph