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Just one punch can lead to such devastating consequences.
From broken jaws and fractured skulls, single acts of violence in the region have not only caused long-lasting serious injury.
Some families will know how lucky they are that their son or daughter survived their injuries, but other families have had their lives wrecked.
Lives have been lost with a number of victims unable to recover from the horrific injuries they sustained from a single punch.
While some one-punch attackers have faced time behind bars, others have been able to walk free from court.
We take a look at seven people who have been brought before the courts across the North East in recent years for a one-punch attack.

The North East’s magistrates’ courts were closed from Tuesday for all-but-urgent cases and those where the defendant is in custody.
Following Boris Johnson’s announcement of tough new measures to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, which include only allowing people to leave their homes under specific circumstances, the region’s courthouses shut their doors to members of the public.
Only remand cases - where defendants have been charged with an offence and then kept in custody by the police - urgent cases, such as applications for Domestic Violence Protection Orders, and cases via video link will be heard in one courtroom each at North Tyneside, South East Northumberland and South Tyneside.
All other matters, such as where the accused is on bail or has been summoned to appear at court via a postal requisition, will be adjourned until a later date.
Staff members and security were on the doors on Tuesday, advising that only personnel directly linked to an urgent case, such as a defence solicitor or a prosecutor, would be allowed into the buildings.
A tweet on Tuesday morning from HM Courts & Tribunal Service read: “Magistrates’ Courts will only hear urgent cases today (overnight custody & prisoner production).

Major supermarkets are hiring hundreds of staff to help cater for increased demand caused by shoppers during the coronavirus pandemic.
Jobs are available throughout the North East, from the tip of Northumberland to Teesside, as supermarkets boost staff levels to help serve customers, re-stock shelves and deliver shopping.
There are roles to work in Tesco supermarkets throughout the entire region, including Amble, Berwick, Chester-le-Street, Consett, Durham, Gateshead, Hexham, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, North Shields, Sunderland and Stockton.
The adverts offer an 'immediate start', with day and night roles available.
An advert for an immediate customer service position says: "With the COVID-19 situation evolving every day, and unprecedented high demand, we urgently need to recruit extra temporary in-store colleagues.
"Working in our stores, you’ll play a key role in keeping our shelves stocked, helping our customers get what they need during this challenging time."

Police investigating a violent attack on a teenage boy have released their suspect on bail.
The 15-year-old victim was seriously injured when he was allegedly assaulted in Bedlington, on Friday.
On Monday Northumbria Police officers arrested a 26-year-old man in connection with the incident, which happened at around 9.10pm, at The Oval
The suspect has now been released on bail as enquiries continue.
A Northumbria Police spokesman said: “The 26-year-old man has been released on bail and enquiries are ongoing.”
Police say the teenager suffered a head injury in the alleged attack.

Hospital visiting has been suspended across Northumberland and North Tyneside in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has said it has made the decision to stop visiting to protect its patients and staff.
The temporary measure comes into effect as of Wednesday with the only exceptions being for patients receiving end-of-life care, birthing partners in maternity units and parents or guardians in the children's unit.
iPads will be available on wards to facilitate ‘virtual’ visiting and friends and relatives will be able to ring a central number for information about their loved one in hospital.
Locations where the measures will be implemented include Alnwick Infirmary, Hexham General Hospital, Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital and North Tyneside General Hospital.
Dr Jeremy Rushmer, executive medical director at Northumbria Healthcare, said: “This is not a decision we have taken lightly. However, it is a sensible step to try and reduce the spread of Coronavirus in our hospitals, and in our communities, across Northumberland and North Tyneside.
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A teenager has been seriously injured in an alleged street attack.
Cops are today quizzing an adult suspect in connection with the incident, which happened in Bedlington on Friday night.
The 15-year-old boy suffered a head injury when he was allegedly assaulted by a man on The Oval.
The incident was reported to police at around 9.10pm.
And today officers investigating the attack arrested a 26-year-old man.
The suspect remains in custody, and Northumbria Police is appealing for witnesses.

A mum claimed to have a clean driving licence, despite having 12 penalty points, in order to get cheaper car insurance.
Laura McBride fraudulently filled out an online form but failed to disclose her previous motoring convictions.
A court heard that, having amassed 12 penalty points, the 25-year-old should have been disqualified but wasn't as it "had been missed" by the DVLA.
McBride was pullled over by police a month after committing the fraud and was found to have no insurance as it had been voided.
Now, McBride, of Cherrytree Drive, Bedlington, has been fined a total of £575 and banned from the roads for six months after she admitted making a false statement to obtain insurance and driving with no insurance.
Sentencing her, District Judge Bernard Begley said: "You have pleaded guilty to the offence but fraud is fraud and that's what you have done here and, no doubt, to get your premium lower than it should have been because disclosure of that information would have increased it substantially so.

Eight further suspects have been charged in connection with an alleged shooting in Newcastle.
Police launched an investigation after reports that the firearm was fired on Ridsdale Avenue in West Denton on January 4.
Witnesses reported seeing a man fire a gun at a car following an argument with the female driver at about 3pm.
The bullet missed the vehicle and damaged the window of a nearby home before those involved then fled. Nobody was injured.
Nathan Mackay, 31, has already appeared at  South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court charged with a string of offences in relation to the alleged shooting.
Mackay, of Ravenshill Road, West Denton, has been remanded in custody ahead of a trial at Newcastle Crown Court at a later date.

A school girl from Bedlington was a natural on the catwalk when she modelled at the prestigious London Fashion Week.
Adorable six-year-old Indie Watson was offered the lucky chance to parade down the runway wearing clothes made by top children's wear designers in front of the whole globe.
After their little girl was chosen from hundreds of models from around the world, Indie's parents Carly and Dean Watson were bursting with pride and have made some lifelong family memories.
And Indie loved every minute of being in the spotlight and made friends with other children from across the world.
While out with Indie people would regularly mention to Carly how pretty she was, so when Indie turned three years old, Carly decided to try to get her into the modelling industry.
After struggling to get Indie signed onto local agencies, the Northumberland mum set up an Instagram account to showcase images of her daughter which started to get quite a lot of attention from photographers.
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