The moment a career criminal with 56 convictions twirled a cane around as he celebrated walking free from court has been captured on camera. Anthony Mason, 53, of Edge Hill, Liverpool, had limped into Liverpool Crown Court aided by pals and a security guard for an appearance on Thursday (September 25).
Afterwards, Mason was seen twirling his cane around his head in triumph as he walked unaided from the court building. He was in court to face allegations he attacked a stranger in a nightclub. CCTV from the Ruby Blues club in Great Charlotte Street showed Mason speaking briefly with the victim before lashing out, swinging at him five times and knocking the man to the ground in May 2022.
Prosecutor Ben Berkson told the court that as a result of the assault the victim can’t remember what happened, but he fell to the floor and had to go to hospital. Mr Berkson said: “There were some quite bad injuries. A CT scan showed multiple bleeds inside the head and he was kept in hospital for four days.”
Mason was arrested for the assault in August 2022. When police visited his property officers found “obvious hallmarks of a cannabis farm”, according to the Liverpool Echo. Over half a kilo of flowering cannabis heads with a street value of between £5,000 and £8,000 were found, along with £4,840 cash stashed inside a slow cooker.
A second police raid in August the following year found “clear evidence of cannabis cultivation”, with two cannabis plants seized by officers. Mason was again booked on assault charges in March last year after punching a man outside the Filling Station takeaway on the corner of Victoria Street and North John Street in Liverpool city centre. That attack was also caught on CCTV.
Mr Berkson said the victim was out for a weekend with his friends and had been to the Cavern Club as well as other places in the Mathew Street area. He told the court the victim had lost his friends and was on his way back to a Holiday Inn hotel by Lime Street station.
The prosecutor, explaining what was happening in the CCTV, added: “It seems the victim was having a chat with someone outside the takeaway. The defendant seems to be loitering in the area and there seems, at this point, to be no interaction between them.
“The defendant is seen to walk out of shot. The defendant comes back, and this is where (there was) one punch. A second punch, and the victim is knocked to the floor, and assisted by members of the public.”
The court heard he suffered a 3cm laceration to the left side of his mouth which was treated with stitches.
Mason has racked up 56 convictions for 103 past offences, the court heard. Mr Berkson said those offences include grievous bodily harm and wounding, assaults on police officers, actual bodily harm convictions and public order offences.
Drug offences also appear on his record, including possession of cannabis in 2009, supplying a class A drug in 2021 and production of cannabis in 2023, for which he was subjected to a community order.
Mason pleaded guilty to two counts of section 20 assault causing grievous bodily harm and two counts of production of a controlled class B drug (cannabis). He also admitted breaching a community order.
Lionel Gregg, defending, said Mason had a drug problem after the breakdown of a relationship. He said: “Addressing the problems with drugs will hopefully go some way to preventing the commission of further offending in the further.”
He added Mason as a result of his lifestyle and health suffered a stroke. The court heard Mason was hospitalised and suffered an infection, which impacted his wellbeing. Mr Gregg said: “The defendant is still clearly suffered with his health and wellbeing, and also with his drug addiction. The defendant also tells me his mother passed away last Wednesday and the funeral is in October.”
Judge Mark Bradshaw, said: “I have considered all that has been said on your behalf. I take into account your difficulties with drugs. I see you’re actively pursuing support in relation to that. I note your difficult medical history, suffering a stroke. You spent a great deal of time in hospital and suffered an infection during your rehabilitation.
“I take into account you’re still struggling with pain and your mobility is affected. I think it would be difficult for you in prison, with all your difficulties.”
He sentenced Mason to a total of 23 months in prison suspended for two years. He also made a 12 month drug requirement order and a six-month curfew.
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