TWO YEARS’ JAIL FOR KNIFEMAN WHO ATTACKED SHOP’S OWNER
Drunken yob left his victims traumatised
DRUNKEN Anthony Vaughan has been locked up for two years after he attacked a shopkeeper and his son and left them ‘traumatised’.
Stoke-on-trent Crown Court heard he visited Stoke-on-trent Minimarket, in Newcastle Road, on October 1 at about 6.45pm.
Prosecutor Rhia Abukhalil said: “He began to argue and fight. The owner’s son tried to split the pair up.
“The owner was struck in the face and neck, which caused a cut.
“Mr Vaughan left the shop but returned three minutes later. He had a knife in his hand.”
The owner’s son suffered a small cut from the knife. Forty-three-yearold Vaughan, of no fixed address was arrested.
He answered ‘no comment’ at the interview, but later pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm, criminal damage, and possession of a bladed article. He was cleared of racially aggravated assault.
In a victim impact statement, the owner said: “Since the incident, I have not been myself. I now struggle to work in the shop and provide for my family. My mind can’t rest.”
The victim’s son, who is 19, said: “I have not been able to leave the house on my own. I was even too scared to go to the dentist and I have been unable to work in the shop.
“I had an induction for a new job, but I can’t start it because I don’t want to be out at night. I have dreams about me and my dad being stabbed. I used to be very sociable and go out with friends.”
Vaughan has 18 previous convictions for 37 offences. Ryan Hodgins, mitigating, said: “He did enter guilty pleas and he’s sorry for his actions.
“He attempted to contact the shopkeeper the next day to apologise for what he did. He has been remanded in custody since October 9.
“He has spent 124 days in custody. He does have an appalling record, but most of the previous offences are of some age.
“He went through a relationship breakdown one week previously. His sister had also recently come out of a coma having miscarried her child.
“He was intoxicated on the day - he had been out drinking with his friends to try and cope. He has also suffered from depression and is medicated.
“Prior to his arrest, he was in fulltime employment at Portmeirion in the warehouse. He had his own property for the first time.
“He has a positive relationship with his mother and has her full support. His mother suffers from emphysema and he assists her with shopping.”
Sentencing him, Judge David Fletcher said: “What you said to the prosecution service is that you were frightened and there was some sort of provocation. I completely reject that.
“You were the aggressor. There were people present in the shop, including two young girls.” He sentenced Vaughan to two years’ imprisonment.