Doctor sentenced for missed reservation headbutt

Nganjo Endeley attacked a waiter at the Wafi Lounge in Newcastle

A doctor who headbutted a waiter in a drunken rage after arriving three hours late for a reservation has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Nganjo Endeley, 42, fractured the eye socket of a 21-year-old worker at the Wafi Lounge in Newcastle in September 2021, the city's crown court heard.

He and two friends were angered to find the bar had closed at 02:30 BST when they arrived three hours after their 23:30 booking, the court heard.

Endeley, a father of three from Bowburn in Durham, was found guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm. He was jailed for two years suspended for 21 months with 250 hours unpaid work.

'Unprovoked attack'

The victim and a female colleague were putting away tables outside the bar and restaurant when Endeley and his friends attempted to enter on 12 September, prosecutor Joe Hedworth said.

The trio, who were all drunk, were "politely" told the venue had closed but they became "immediately" aggressive saying they had a booking for 23:30, Mr Hedworth said.

Doorstaff tried to calm the men telling them they did not want a fight, But Endeley grabbed the victim's shirt so tight he struggled to breathe, Mr Hedworth said.

Endeley, of Charlton Court, then dragged the victim around before headbutting him in the face knocking the man semi-unconscious.

Hospital scans revealed a fracture to the victim's eye socket and in a statement he told the court he had been left with long-term pain and vision problems.

Details of Endeley's employment were not given but the victim said he was "angered" when he found out his attacker was a doctor who was supposed to care for people.

The waiter said he "did not deserve" to be attacked, had been left with a visible dent in his forehead and that Endeley should be "ashamed".

'Well respected'

The man said he moved to the UK as a refugee from Iraq in 2019 and the attack had left him living in "fear" which he "never thought" he would feel again after fleeing his homeland.

In mitigation, Christopher Knox said the attack was very short-lived.

Judge Sarah Mallett said it was "very difficult to reconcile" the Endeley caught on CCTV and the "very consistent and compelling picture" of the man painted by multiple positive references.

She said he had "real value to the public" and was "well-liked and respected" for his work in "no doubt very stressful" work situations.

"I don't think he is unsuitable to continue on his role despite what he did that night," the judge said, adding the balance was in favour of suspending the "inevitable" jail term.

Endeley was also ordered to pay £2,000 compensation to the victim at £200 per month.