MAN ATTACKED STRANGER FOR ‘BULLYING’ OAP

Took law into own hands after hearing of neighbour dispute Beat up victim in his home and then knocked him off bike

A MAN beat up a stranger before knocking him off his bike in a van after intervening in a neighbour dispute.

Leicester Crown Court was told Christopher Newcomb called at the victim’s home in South Wigston’s Fairfield estate, at noon on September 27 last year, after being told the householder was “bullying” an elderly neighbour and her disabled son.

Newcomb, 33, had decided to “take the law into his own hands” and punched the victim about six times. After the householder followed him on a bicycle, Newcomb, in a van, mounted the pavement and hit the victim.

The van also struck a front garden wall and a vehicle in a driveway, causing in excess of £2,000 of damage. Newcomb, of Knighton Lane East, Aylestone, admitted dangerous driving and causing actual bodily harm. He was given a 21-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.

A MAN seeking to avenge an elderly neighbour beat up his victim in his home before knocking him off his bike in a van.

The injured victim was pursuing his attacker, Christopher Newcomb, who drove on to the pavement to run him down and continue the assault.

Leicester Crown Court was told the trouble began when Newcomb called at the victim’s home in South Wigston’s Fairfield estate, at noon on September 27 last year.

Newcomb had decided to “take the law into his own hands” to deal with a neighbour dispute that did not involve him.

Priya Bakshi, prosecuting, said the victim did not know the defendant, who arrived at his door and immediately punched him to the floor.

She said: “Newcomb continued punching the complainant about six times to his face.

“The victim’s wife was screaming as the defendant proceeded to kick and knee her husband.”

Newcomb, 33, then left saying if the man did not “leave alone” an elderly neighbour “I will kill you”.

The householder got on to his bicycle and followed the defendant’s van into nearby Dorset Avenue.

Newcomb then drove on the wrong side of the road, mounted the pavement and hit the victim, deliberately knocking him off his bike.

The van also struck a front garden wall and a vehicle in a driveway, causing in excess of £2,000 of damage.

Miss Bakshi said: “The defendant got out and grabbed the victim, pushing him against a car, causing him to bang his head on it.”

The victim managed to pull the defendant’s clothing over his head.

Newcomb left the scene in his van, but was traced through his registration number that was noted by a witness.

The victim suffered cuts, bruising, burst blood vessels in his left eye and a chest injury, but did not require hospital treatment, although saw his GP several times.

In a personal impact statement, he said he was “battered and bruised” with painful shoulders and had struggled psychologically, having later been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

He said: “Every time I see a white van, I panic.”

The victim has since moved “for the sake of his wellbeing” said the prosecutor.

Newcomb, of Knighton Lane

East, Aylestone, Leicester, admitted dangerous driving and causing actual bodily harm.

Gary Short, mitigating, said there was a background of antisocial behaviour by the victim towards an 85-year-old woman neighbour and her disabled son, in his 50s.

It involved verbal comments, bullying and throwing items into the pensioner’s garden.

The issue was reported to both the council and police in April last year, with subsequent visits to the pensioner by a police community support worker to monitor the situation, that was confirmed in a letter from the elderly woman to the court.

Newcomb’s uncle, who lives in the same street, was said to have witnessed the alleged bad behaviour and told the defendant about it.

It resulted in Newcomb, a married father of three, taking the matter into his own hands.

When arrested, Newcomb told the police the victim was harassing an elderly neighbour, but the complainant denied it.

Mr Short said the defendant was a plumber and gas engineer, with sub-contractors depending on him, and the business would suffer if he went into custody.

The defendant’s uncle gave evidence, saying the elderly woman neighbour used to be fearful of going outside because of alleged anti-social behaviour from the victim of the assault – but her situation had improved since the complainant had moved away.

Sentencing, Judge Robert Brown told Newcomb: “You perceived a real grievance by this elderly lady and her son, but it’s no excuse for what you did. “Nobody takes the law into their own hands and it doesn’t justify your behaviour in any way.

“I am satisfied you’re genuinely remorseful.”

Newcomb was given a 21-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.

He was banned from driving for 12 months.

The judge ordered him to pay £1,000 compensation to the assault victim and £2,075 compensation to the householder whose wall and vehicle were damaged in Dorset Avenue.

Nobody takes the law into their own hands and it doesn’t justify your behaviour

Judge Robert Brown