A judge has blasted a police officer who ignored a request for more information about how the victim of a savage assault has been affected.

Damien Shaw attacked a man in Grosvenor Casino in Bolton in the early hours of November 7, 2021.

He admitted grievous bodily harm and had been expected to be sentenced at Bolton Crown Court last month.

However on that occasion Judge Nicholas Clarke KC said he wanted up to date information about how the victim had been affected by the attack.

But when the case called again this week, Jon Close, prosecutor, told the court that this information had not been requested after the crown requested it from the police.

He said: “It seems the officer has simply ignored the court order.”

Judge Clarke put the case off for two weeks, and ordered that the information be obtained or the police officer would have to attend in person at court.

He said: “I will see either the officer or the victim personal statement on March 8.

“The officer may want to consider what the officer’s superiors may think about his lack of cooperation with the court.”

Bolton Crown Court previously heard Shaw came across his victim in the early hours of the morning.

The victim was with his partner and they had attended a baby shower earlier in the night.

After words were exchanged Shaw walked over a launched a brutal single punch which knocked the man unconscious.

A victim impact statement taken at the time of the attack said he was unable to work for six weeks.

It added: “I am worried I will have strokes or issues with memory.

“The issues are going to have a long term impact on me and my partner’s life.”

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Judge Clarke said the consequences could have been car worse.

He said: “That blow and the consequences of it could have been fatal.

“We have all dealt with cases of single punch manslaughter, I have dealt with single punch murders.

“The consequences can be much more devastating.”

Shaw, 37 and from Sycamore Drive, Wigan, will be sentenced next month.