Man battered ‘vulnerable’ friend while he screamed
TWO Derbyshire men have been punished for their part in an attack on a “vulnerable” man in a park which left the victim with a perforated eardrum.
Birmingham Crown Court heard how, on May 14, John Johnson, 43, of Cordwell Close, and Stephen Whitehouse, 48, of Bond Street, in Chesterfield, lured the victim to a park after he had contacted the police over an allegation that the pair had taken money out of his bank account.
Raglan Ashton QC, prosecuting said: “At the park, Mr Whitehouse asked him to empty his pockets and he took out a mobile phone and £85 in cash. Mr Johnson then appeared from the bushes and snuck up behind him and the defendants both assaulted him.”
“It was started by Mr Johnson hitting the victim to the ear with an open palm, there were a number of blows to both ears and the victim was heard to scream as a consequence of that.
“The victim then went to the floor and covered his head. Mr Johnson then took out some rose cutters and he then cut the thumb of the victim.”
The assault continued with punches by Johnson to the ribs of the victim as he was lying on the floor, both Johnson and Whitehouse made threats such as “do you realise we’re going to bury you”.
Judge Andrew Hurst told the pair: “When the victim got home he was in such a state that he passed out and lost consciousness and had to be taken to the hospital. You, Johnson, demonstrated your attitude to all of this by saying to neighbours nearby that he’d deserved it and you should have killed him.”
Judge Hurst sentenced Johnson, who had a number of previous convictions for assault, to 27 months in prison, of which he would serve half before being released on licence.
Whitehouse was handed an 18-month suspended sentence, was admitted to rehab programmes and told to complete 150 hours of unpaid work. Both were handed a five-year restraining order keeping them away from the victim.