Nottingham Man Jailed After Revenge Baseball Bat Attack Left McDonald’s Door Supervisor With Fractured Skull

A Nottingham man who armed himself with a baseball bat and returned to attack a McDonald’s door supervisor in an assault that left the victim with life-changing head injuries has been jailed for nine years.

Braulio Joaquim Lemos, 33, of Northumberland Close, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent after carrying out the premeditated attack outside the McDonald’s restaurant in Clumber Street during the early hours of 22 September 2023.

Nottingham Crown Court heard the violence followed an earlier confrontation after Lemos was asked to leave the restaurant for harassing female members of staff and customers by repeatedly asking for their telephone numbers and Snapchat details.

During the initial incident, the defendant punched the door supervisor before walking away. Instead of leaving matters there, he returned home, changed into different clothing, put on a hooded tracksuit and armed himself with a baseball bat before making his way back into Nottingham city centre.

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The court heard Lemos concealed himself behind a parked council van before waiting for the security guard’s back to be turned. He then ran across the street and struck the victim on the side of the head with the bat before fleeing the scene.

The single blow fractured the victim’s skull and caused a brain haemorrhage. Nearly three years later, the injuries continue to have a profound impact on his daily life.

In victim impact statements read to the court, the door supervisor said his injuries had forced him to abandon plans to attend university and had left him struggling to find employment.

Sentencing Lemos on Friday, Judge Stuart Rafferty KC said the attack had been a deliberate act of revenge rather than a loss of control.

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The judge told the defendant: “When you were walking home you had already decided what you were going to do and you acted in revenge.”

He continued: “You got home, changed your clothing, put up a hood and armed yourself with a weapon.”

Addressing the consequences of the assault, Judge Rafferty said: “He will not be able to live an ordinary life because of what you did. His life has been changed forever, he could easily have died.”

The judge also described the attack as “unnecessary, unlawful and in revenge”.

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The prosecution said Lemos had ample time to cool down after the initial altercation but instead deliberately returned armed with a weapon and lay in wait for the victim before launching the attack.

Lemos, who had no previous convictions, was said by his barrister to be a chef who also ran a cleaning business with his wife. The court heard the couple have five children, all aged under 12, including one child with autism. His defence said he had intended only to frighten the victim before losing his temper and striking him.

As the nine-year sentence was imposed, Lemos sank into his seat in the dock, put his head in his hands and shouted: “Nine years.”

Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Lisa Jones of Nottinghamshire Police said Lemos had every opportunity to walk away after the first confrontation but instead chose to arm himself and seek revenge.

She said the victim’s injuries continue to affect him almost three years after the attack, adding that violent offending of this nature has no place in Nottingham’s night-time economy.