Thug says he 'regrets nothing' after horror attack on pensioner

A Manchester man has said he doesn't "regret anything" after leaving prison following a savage assault on a pensioner in a city pub. Dougie Joyce, 36, was jailed in November 2023 after he admitted he repeatedly punched a 78-year-old man in the back room of a pub in Manchester's trendy Northern Quarter.

He was given a 19-month prison sentence and Greater Manchester Police branded him as an "aggressive and violent man" who "intended to intimidate and inflict pain on a vulnerable 78-year-old". Joyce, who was let out from prison last November, drew headlines earlier this year after appearing in a video alongside ex-Prime Minister Liz Truss. The former Tory leader was criticised for promoting the convict's new whiskey.

In the video shared on Instagram, Joyce - a member of one of the city's best-known Traveller families - gave the former PM a bottle of Joyce's Irish Whiskey, adding: "Just remember - Dougie Joyce loves ya". Ms Truss replied: "Liz Truss loves you."

In CCTV footage from the attack, which took place in October 2022, Joyce, who was wearing a large gold ring, was seen punching the elderly man before encouraging his father to join in the violence. Police said left incident left the 78-year-old victim with "significant facial injuries."

During an interview with the Criminal Connection podcast put out last week, the businessman and former bare-knuckle boxer said he had no regrets about the attack, according to Manchester Evening News. He told host Terry Stone: "I never regret anything I do in life.

"I regret being in that situation. But I don't regret anything I do because everything I do is for a reason."

He said the violent affair was "just one of them moments inside of a pub", and added that the man had insulted his father, John Joyce. His dad was given a community order for his role in the incident.

Joyce added: "The bottom line of the story is my father knocked him spark out 35 years ago. That was it.

"But what it was he was holding a grudge against my father. He's obviously not got over it. There was a little bit of commotion. And then he got very abusive coming out with his name calling and then he just took it one step too far.

"He threatened my family. Nobody threatens my family. I don't care who you are. Obviously I've got drink in my system and I'm an alpha male and the thing is I'll always protect my family.

"So, I've done what I've done and at the end of the day, I've paid the price, been to jail. It's the past. I put it behind me. It is what it is."