He admits attack on homeless man
THE shamed thug who spray-painted a homeless man found dead days later wore a Frankenstein’s monster mask to court yesterday.
Aaron Jones, 33, covered his face after death threats over the sickening attack, footage of which he posted online.
The decorator said he “didn’t like beggars” after targeting Michael Cash, 32, near Tesco in Normanby, Middlesbrough, on September 6.
Jones said in the footage: “This is how we deal with beggars. There he sprayed to death.”
Michael’s body was found in a nearby cemetery six days later. The cause of death is still unknown but police say there is no link to the paint attack.
Tesco security guard Martin Stainthorpe was asked to film the attack but refused. He told Teesside magistrates Jones said he was going is, to squirt Michael with a water pistol as “a laugh”. But he used a Supersoaker filled with red paint. Mr Stainthorpe said: “He sprayed him between 10 and 30 seconds. I told him he was bang out of order.” Michael’s sister Sarah Carman, 43, said: “He did not deserve what happened.” Jones, of Normanby, admitted assault and criminal damage. He was given an 18-month community order with 180 hours of unpaid work.
Chair of the bench Stephen Walker said: “We put this in highest category of common assault. This was a vulnerable victim, the assault was shared [online].”
Jones left wearing the mask again and with a police escort. Sarah added: “He needed a mask to cover his horrible ugly face and he picked the right one, to do what he did you have to be a monster.”