Man jailed after a senseless attack at a petrol station in Sale

A man who lived in Sale has been found guilty of manslaughter and GBH following a trial at Minshull Street Crown Court. Today ( 7 March) where he was sentenced to five years imprisonment for attacking another man at a petrol station in Sale.

Tyren Pollard aged 53, formerly of Newbury Avenue, Sale was found guilty after he got into a row with another man ‘Bernard Hirsch’ at a petrol station on Marsland Road in Sale, Hirsch was already at the pumps when Pollard suddenly started shouting at him and waving his walking stick at him in an aggressive way.

Things escalated and Pollard then threw a punch at Hirsch he then proceeded to hit him several times with a walking stick, despite the attack Hirsch attempted to use his own in self-defence.

This senseless attack by Pollard was reported as being over the use of a petrol pump! Once the attack was over Pollard left the scene.

Bernard received a cut to the lip and was left shaken following the incident, suffering from a headache over the following days which resulted in him vomiting and collapsing on 14 December.

A subsequent scan confirmed that he had received a bleed on the brain, and over the following days, he developed sepsis and pneumonia while in intensive care.

Bernard remained in a coma for a period of time and when he did wake, he suffered from limited mobility and could not speak. He was discharged in August 2018 and was cared for by his wife, with the support of carers.

This continued until 2020, when Bernard sadly contracted Covid-19 and died aged 43 on 20 March.

Subsequent reports and a post-mortem revealed that his assault caused the brain injury, and that this contributed to his death.

Pollard was interviewed on the 9 February 2018 and charged with manslaughter and assault causing grievous bodily harm in September 2023.

Detective Sergeant Kirsty Wroe, from GMP’s Trafford district, said: “Pollard’s senseless and totally unwarranted attack left a man with a serious bleed on the brain, and drastically reduced his quality of life over two years until his death.

“His actions have left a family grieving – and all of whom have been strong and resilient in what has been an incredibly difficult few years.

“Pollard is now behind bars and I hope that Bernard’s family now receive some closure, as they continue to rebuild their lives following his sad passing.”

(Picture of Tyren Pollard via GMP)