Man jailed over ‘mean’ attack on sleeping homeless

A MAN has been jailed for his part in an attack on two homeless men which a judge described as demonstrating a “depressing lack of awareness”.

The two victims were sleeping on the streets of Whitefriargate, Hull, when Jake Mann, 29, stood and filmed another man taking a running jump on to their tent on November 30 last year.

Prosecutors told how Mann, who had travelled to the city from his home in Lincoln to see a concert, had been drinking, and laughed in the aftermath of the incident. He was brought to justice after Humberside Police released CCTV footage of him filming the incident to appeal for help in identifying him and the man who took the running jump.

Phillip Evans, prosecuting, explained how one of the homeless men was left with an injured knee following the incident, while the other still remains frightened about being attacked again.

Mr Evans also told the court how Mann’s filming of the attack reflected the fact that some degree of planning had gone into it.

Appearing at Hull Crown Court, Mann pleaded guilty to a single count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was given a 14-week sentence.

Meanwhile, Jamie Nickell, 26, also of Lincoln, is due to appear in court on Friday, accused of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in relation to the incident.

Mann’s defence solicitor, David Eager, suggested that although the attack was “mean”, the judge could consider deferring the prison sentence in order to allow his client to volunteer at a Lincolnshire homeless shelter.

But, His Honour Judge Bury, sentencing, said that even if Mann did work at a homeless shelter, this would not be truly voluntary as it would be done in lieu of jail time.

The Judge suggested he could do voluntary work on release from prison.