Three jailed for beating man and stealing savings

Three people who beat a vulnerable man in Bath before stealing almost all of his savings have been jailed.

Andrew Herbert, Rhys Escott and Kelly Miles went to a flat where George Fox was socialising, before Herbert and Escott men attacked him and took him to a cash machine where he was made to withdraw £210.

When he was allowed to leave the house, a police community support officer saw the victim and he received medical help.

Herbert, 50, of Poplar Close, Bath, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) and theft.

Escott, 48, of Julian House, Bath, pleaded guilty to ABH, while Miles, 38, of Julian House, Bath, admitted theft.

Judge Michael Longman jailed Herbert for 24 months, Escott for 15 months and Miles for 12 months.

He told them: “You were all involved, in different roles, in an incident in December last year in which George Fox, a man who you knew to be vulnerable, was bullied, intimidated and assaulted.”

Emma Martin, prosecuting, told Bristol Crown Court Mr Fox was socialising at a friend’s flat in Snow Hill, Bath, when the three turned up on December 17 last year.

The court heard Herbert used a pole to hit Mr Fox to the body and head before he was hit and kicked.

There then followed several trips to a Lloyds ATM, where Mr Fox was made to withdraw cash.

In the first, Mr Fox was flanked by Herbert and Miles and withdrew £200.

In the second, Herbert and Mr Fox went to the ATM – but Mr Fox realised he didn’t have his bank card.

There then followed a third trip in which Miles and Mr Fox went to the ATM and he withdrew £10.

Mr Fox was able to leave the flat the next morning, the court heard, and was helped by police after being spotted by a PCSO.

The court heard Mr Fox lost teeth in the assault as well as scratches to his face.

He made a victim personal statement in which he wrote: “It left me shell-shocked and sad.

“I feel very vulnerable nowadays. “I have little or no confidence in keeping myself safe. I do not understand the level of violence.”

Emily Evans, defending Herbert, said his client had struggled with alcohol and drug use and felt being remanded in custody had saved his life.

Alistair Haggerty, defending Escott, said the remorseful father of two had struggled with drug addiction but knew he had a chance to rid himself of drugs in custody.

Nicholas Clough, defending Miles, told the court his client had the “classic record” of a drug addict but was determined not to return to her old lifestyle.