Thug’s revenge attack on man in hospital A&E

A MAN has been jailed after he launched a “revenge attack” on another male who was waiting in the accident and emergency department at Dewsbury District Hospital.

Leeds Crown Court heard the victim, who later would not co-operate with police, was in A&E around 3pm on September 30 last year when a car pulled up outside.

Paul Nicholson, prosecuting, said yesterday the defendant Carlton Watson got out of the car, went inside and walked through the waiting area looking around.

When he saw his target he returned to the car and another two men then got out and joined him.

CCTV captured Watson carrying a baseball bat or metal bar and then enter the room where the victim was sitting with his head in his hands.

Recorder Simon Eckersley, who watched the incident play on a laptop, said it showed him raising the weapon above his head and using it to strike the victim to the head and body.

The other two followed him in and at least one had a weapon, joining in the attack before their target fled.

Mr Nicholson said the victim would not speak to police about the incident or provide his medical records and Watson made no comment when interviewed.

The court heard Watson told a probation officer he attacked the victim having seen the male stab his friend.

Rodney Ferm, representing Watson, said: “He needs to think before he acts. What took place here was unfinished business from an incident that had taken place earlier that morning in the environs of Batley which shouldn’t have happened.”

He said his client was aware it was a serious situation but had not been in trouble for a couple of years. He urged the court not to jail Watson immediately as he was in full-time employment and if sent to prison he would lose that work.

Watson, 21, of Millers Croft, Birstall, admitted affray and having an offensive weapon and was jailed for 18 months after Recorder Simon Eckersley said it was too serious to avoid an immediate jail term.

He said Watson had checked to see if the man was in accident and emergency before returning to the car and being joined by the other two.

The judge said: “This was a premeditated revenge attack within a hospital. You were seen on CCTV to be the first to enter wielding a large lengthy baseball bat or similar item such as a metal bar which you immediately used to strike him. It was only a matter of luck he was not more seriously injured.” Birstall man Carlton Watson was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty at Leeds Crown Court to attacking his victim who was waiting in a hospital accident and emergency unit A WOMAN who was arrested on suspicion of the attempted murder of a woman in Dewsbury is still being questioned by detectives.

The victim in her 20s was found with life-threatening injuries at a maisonette in Gladstone Court, Westborough, in the early hours of Sunday.

Officers were called at 4.30am to the cul-de-sac off Staincliffe Road close to Dewsbury and District Hospital and found the woman with serious stab wounds. Paramedics treated her at the scene before she was taken to hospital where her condition was reported to be serious but stable.

Later that day a 25-year-old woman was located and arrested nearby on suspicion of attempted murder.

Det Chief Insp Stuart Spencer, from West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: “This would appear to be an attack by one female upon another, although it is unclear why this has occurred.

“Our enquiries are at an early stage and we would appeal for anyone who was in or around the Gladstone Court area of Dewsbury in the early hours, or anyone who may have information to contact police.”

Phone on 101 quoting log 409 of July 9. Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.