Man ‘terrorised’ victims – and gets sentence doubled

A YOUNG man who “terrorised” victims in the Bristol area has had his sentence doubled.

On June 5, Aaron John Scrase, right, attacked a driver with a wrench after trying to steal his Porsche with an accomplice from a drive in St Hilary Close.

His defence lawyer, Derek Perry, had told Bristol Crown Court that it was a “crazy night”.

The pair stole a Mini in the early hours of the next day, and used this to rob a cyclist of his belongings in Julian Road.

On another occasion, Scrase stole alcohol from a shop on a petrol station forecourt and, when a member of staff intervened, joined his accomplices in punching and kicking him. He was also sentenced for separate offences of car theft and a burglary at a newsagents.

The 20-year-old, of Victoria Street in Redcliffe, was originally handed one year and 11 months detention in a Young Offender Institution back in August.

However, the Court of Appeal has deemed the sentence to be unduly lenient after a referral from the Solicitor General, Robert Buckland QC MP.

On Tuesday, Scrase’s sentence was increased to four years and six months detention.