Adams (Dean) Given a suspended sentence for assault causing harm to Deomid Ryabkov, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 27-7-2015 Pic shows: Dean Adams (22), of Bernard Curtis House, Bluebell, Dublin at court yesterday (Mon.) where he was given a suspended sentence for assault causing harm to Deomid Ryabkov at Emmet Road, Inchicore in Dublin, in February, 2012. Pic: Courtpix

A youth who broke a man's skull three years ago by delivering a running kick to his forehead has received a suspended sentence.

Dean Adams (22) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Deomid Ryabkov at Emmet Road, Inchicore in Dublin, on February 19, 2012.

Adams of Bernard Curtis House, Bluebell, Dublin attacked the man as he was tackling a thief who was trying to steal the victim's headphones.

Adams told gardaí that the man who had stolen the victim's headphones was a friend of his. He said he saw his friend struggling with the victim and decided to intervene. Adams later told gardaí he was “remorseful” and never meant to harm the victim.

Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended a sentence of three and a half years on condition that he keep the peace and engage with the Probation Service's education and training programmes.

“If you lift your foot or your fist to anyone you'll do three and a half years and any sentence on top of that,” Judge Ring said.

The court heard that Mr Ryabkov had been about to enter a takeaway on Emmet Road when a man grabbed his headphones from his head and ran off.

Garda Mark Dennehy told Colm O'Briain BL, prosecuting, that the victim pursued the thief and managed to grab hold of him, shouting out for someone to call the police.

Mr Ryabkov felt an impact on the side of his face and realised that a second man had hit him. The victim fell on the ground and there was blood coming from his head.

The man who had stolen the headphones said, “It wasn't me that did that to you,” as a crowd began to gather. There were shouts of “kill him, kill him” from the crowd.

As the victim lay on the ground, Adams ran about thirty yards and kicked him in the forehead and head in what gardaí described as an “unprovoked assault”. The victim suffered a “severe skull fracture” which posed a risk to his vision.

Adams has 52 previous convictions, including one for assault, three for theft offences, 16 for public order and 16 for road traffic offences.

Adams told Bernard Condon SC, defending, that he would like to apologise to his victim and accepts that he is 100 per cent to blame. He said he would like to continue with his drug treatment programme as he only really gets into trouble when he is intoxicated.

Adams told the court: “This is not what I want in life. I am really truly sorry and I sincerely apologise”.

Mr Condon said it was his client's “deepest wish” that the victim would forgive him.

He said his client’s background was “far from ideal.” He spent time in care and his mother died when he was 17 and in detention in St Patrick Institution. He developed drink and drug problems and left school early.

Online Editors