Thugs jailed for unprovoked attack
Victim found lying in alleyway by passer-by
Two thugs have been jailed after they fractured a father’s skull in an unprovoked attack as he walked home from a nightclub.
Jonathan Sills and Oliver Bloomsmar had been on a stag night when they left Zac Burniston-Jones lying seriously injured in an alleyway in Maidstone.
The victim, who went to school with his attackers and lives in Hayle Road, was in hospital for two nights and was then bedbound for four weeks. He lost his job as a builder and needed counselling.
“You did absolutely nothing to help him or, indeed, contact the emergency services,” said Judge Philip Statman. “He was discovered by a passer-by and taken to hospital.”
Sills, of Bates Farm, Swan Street, Wittersham, and Bloomsmar, of Jubilee Field, Wittersham, were each sentenced to 15 months after admitting inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Maidstone Crown Court heard Mr Burniston-Jones, 24, had gone into Maidstone with friends on July 12, 2014.
Prosecutor Anthony Hook said a bouncer asked the victim to leave Strawberry Moons in Gabriel’s Hill.
He saw Sills and Bloomsmar, both 25, and two other men and there were “unpleasant” words.
The background, said Mr Hook, was that Bloomsmar and Mr Burniston-Jones had been out with the same woman who became pregnant.
The argument fizzled out and Mr Burniston-Jones started to walk home.
As he walked along Knightrider Street texting on his phone he felt a blow to the back of his head, knocking him face down.
“There was a second blow to his ribs,” said Mr Hook. “Then he was punched and kicked all over his head and body more times than he could count.”
He blacked out and woke up in hospital.
His most serious injury was a 4mm fracture to his skull above his right eye.
Mr Hook said the attack had a profound effect on Mr BurnistonJones. It altered his personality and he had been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder. He has lost contact with his two children.