Man sentenced after attacking victim dressed as "Santa" in Falmouth
25-year-old Abdulmutalip Kaya was given a suspended prison sentence
A man has been sentenced after kicking another man dressed as Santa Clause in the head in Falmouth Town Centre.
Abdulmutalip Kaya, 25, of Trelowen Drive in Penryn, appeared at Truro Magistrates’ Court for sentencing on April 14 after previously pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Kaya, a Turkish national, was given 12-month sentence, suspended for two years, ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £2,500 in compensation to the victim.
Police were alerted to the incident on 17 December 2024 two days later when a video spread via social media showing the victim in fancy dress being kicked in the head by Kaya while on the floor.
The assault was captured on council CCTV and involved disorder between two groups on Killigrew Street.
The footage showed the victim holding Kaya in a bear hug while Kaya was being assaulted by others.
The victim then gets knocked unconscious by another and falls to the floor.
It was at this point Kaya punches him twice before returning and kicking the victim to the head while he was semi-conscious.
The victim then slumps to the ground before Kaya kicks him to the head again.
The man suffered a head cut and facial abrasions and required hospital treatment after experiencing nausea and loss of consciousness.
In an interview, Kaya claimed the assault was in self-defence following a racial attack, though he admitted kicking the victim.
Sergeant Chris Vincent said: “This was an unusual incident in that it wasn’t reported to Police at the time.
“We became aware due to the social media video and were able from it to identify the victim and suspect.
“This was a particularly distressing attack because the victim lay completely defenceless when he was kicked to the head.
“It was a matter of luck that he was not more seriously injured or even killed.”
“These were chaotic scenes as many people enjoyed a festive night out.
“Such violence will not be tolerated and I would like to thank members of the community for their support during this investigation.”