Man jailed over drunken hostel attack
A DRUNKEN man who subjected a fellow hostel resident to a 25-minute attack has been jailed.
Steven Elliott claimed he assaulted the other resident out of fear for his own safety.
Bristol Crown Court heard that, having pushed him to the floor, Elliott continually stamped and kicked him and stood on his neck – at one point threatening to snap it.
Elliott, 46, who was living at Longhills Hostel in Speedwell, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to the other resident.
He also admitted common assault on another resident.
Judge Martin Picton jailed him for three years and six months.
He told Elliott: “I don’t know what was going on in your head. It was not sensible, ordered thinking.
“Whatever issue you had did not justify what you did.
“You were obviously affected by alcohol, which is an aggravating factor.”
Simon Goodman, prosecuting, said Elliott was in a TV room when, completely unprovoked, he punched one sleeping resident to the head.
The court heard that after another resident lunged at him, Elliott put him to the floor and subjected him to a 25-minute ordeal in which he stamped and kicked him and placed his foot on his neck.
When staff tried to intervene, Elliott threatened them, saying he feared they would not help him if the other resident got up and hurt him.
The court was told police were called and Elliott was cooperative with them.
His victim sustained a small blood clot to his head, cuts and two fractured teeth – but no broken bones.
Sam Jones, defending, said: “It was not a happy environment and key workers were doing their best to manage dysfunctionality.
“The background is one of a difficult relationship ... He feared he could come to some harm at (the other man’s) hands.
“He allowed that fear to override all his actions, in drink.”
Mr Jones said Elliott had been a “super enhanced prisoner” and “Covid cleaner” in custody.