Thugs hoodwink court with ‘ tears’ for victim
PUNCHING the air with glee, these thugs laughed at justice after convincing a judge they were overcome with “genuine remorse” for beating an innocent man.
Corey Savory and Thomas Vernon sat with heads bowed in the dock, with Savory shedding “tears” for his victim.
It convinced Recorder Sarah Mallett, who let the 23- year- old thugs walk free from court. Instead she gave the pair suspended eightmonth jail sentences and a £ 100 compensation order. But moments later outside court, they launched into wild celebrations by holding their arms aloft and giving a thumbs- up.
Bleeding
Savory then took to Facebook, commenting: “Wt a relief. Couldn’t be happyer” with two smiley faces.
Critics last night slammed the Recorder for falling for the yobs’ “pathetic sob stories” and called for tougher penalties to be imposed.
Teesside Crown Court had heard how Daniel Pierre was sitting waiting for a friend outside a pub in Redcar, Cleveland, in March last year when he was suddenly punched in the face by a stranger.
Badly bleeding, he turned and saw Vernon. Mr Pierre followed him and Savory as they ran away gesturing. When they went into a house nearby, he banged on the door. But a third man, who has not been identified, came up behind him and knocked him to the ground.
Savory and Vernon then joined in the attack, punching him in the head until he lost consciousness.
Mr Pierre later said the assault contributed to him losing his job while friends of the assailants in the town branded him “a grass”.
Vernon, of Saltburn, and Savory, of Redcar, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.
Graham Brown, defending Vernon, said prison would have a “lifelong impact” on him.
Uzma Khan, defending Savory, said he was “utterly remorseful” and ready to apologise.
His client, he said, suffered from depression and was a suicide risk.
The judge said: “This was a ferocious attack by two men who had the advantage of having their victim put on the ground for them by a third party.”
But she then imposed her soft sentence, provoking campaigners.
Roy Rudham, of the National Neighbourhood Watch Association, said: “You have to wonder what planet these judges are on to fall for these pathetic sob stories.
“Courts are becoming like The X Factor – everyone has a sorry story to tell.
“They should be hauled back into court and properly sentenced.”