Looter Locked-Up For Brick Attack On Policecar

A hooded teenage looter, who threw a brick through a patrol car's window and injured a WPC during last year's summer riot, has been jailed for eight years.

Alexander Elliott-Joahill, 19, (pictured) of Baring Road, Lee, South-East London also robbed a take-away and broke into an antiques store.

He was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm, with intent, of the 40 year-old police officer, who suffered cuts to her head and face in Lewisham High Street on August 8, last year.

Elliott-Joahill pleaded guilty to robbbing Favorite Fried Chicken, Catford Road; burgling Blackheath Antiques, Lewisham High Street; violent disorder and possession of a knife as an offensive weapon.

He deliberately concealed his identity by using a distinctive hooded top which zips across the face and was the ringleader when police came under attack at 5.00pm.

He was seen hurling a brick at a parked police car at point-blank range, which smashed through a side window which struck the officer on the head.

Blackfriars Crown Court heard Elliott-Joahill was one of three people arrested in the early hours of August 9 in a car by police officers in the Greenwich Peninsula Retail Park.

The car was loaded with electrical goods, which had been stolen from local retail parks in the area. 


At earlier appearances at Inner London Crown Court Elliott-Joahill pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods at Currys in Charlton; burglary at Comet in Greenwich; burglary at a BP garage in Woolwich Road, Charlton and handling stolen goods at Halfords and PC World at the Stone Lake Retail Park in Charlton.

Detective Constable Lisa Lathbury said: “Elliott-Joahill and those arrested with him went out on the evening of 8 August with the intention of stealing from local stores and joining in the mass disorder and looting.

“We can only be thankful that his violent and reckless attack on an officer with a brick did not cause far more serious injury.


“We continue to investigate and pursue those involved in the disorder and are still trawling through a large volume of CCTV footage.

“Suspects are being identified on a daily basis which is leading to further arrests and court appearances. 



“We are grateful for all the help received and would like to encourage people to continue to assist us and provide us with information which may be pivotal to bringing criminals to justice.”



Detective Superintendant William Lyle, in charge of Operation Withern, said: “I would like to praise the officers from the Operation Withern team who worked tirelessly on this case. Their work has seen a violent man jailed for his reckless actions.

“I would also like to reassure Londoners that my team will continue to pursue those responsible for criminal acts during last year's disorder, and put them before the courts to face justice.”

Predatory Paedophile Caged For Abusing Teen

A “sexual predator” who twice assaulted a teenage boy – once in the street and again at his home - has been locked-up for six years.

Peter Stewart, 52, (pictured) of Conningham Road, Shepherd's Bush was also placed on the Sexual Offenders Register for life.

Isleworth Crown Court heard paedophile Stewart approached the 15 year-old at 8.00pm in Holland Park Avenue as he walked towards Notting Hill Underground Station on May 27.

The youngster was travelling home after playing football nearby with friends when the defendant engaged him in conversation and asked for his phone number and age.

Stewart then kissed the victim and sexually assaulted him in the street.


The terrified teenager tried to escape, but Stewart was able to coerce him into a taxi, which took him to his home address, where he was again subjected to a sexual assault.


The victim was finally allowed to leave and reported the incident to police, who arrested the defendant the next day.

Detective Inspector Julian King said: “Peter Stewart is a sexual predator, who deliberately targeted a young boy and subjected him to a sustained sexual assault.

“I would like to praise the victim whose courage and determination in reporting the incident to police has helped ensure Stewart has been removed from the streets and can't target any other youngsters.”

Elderly Patient Abuse: Three Charged

Three people will appear in court at the end of the month after an investigation into the abuse of elderly patients at an East London hospital.

They are: Sharmilla Gunda, 35 of Horns Road, Ilford, charged with one count of ill treatment or neglect of a person without capacity contrary to Section 44 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and one count of fraud by false representation under the Fraud Act 2006.

Annette Jackson, 32 of Simpson Road, Hounslow, charged with four counts of ill treatment or neglect of a person without capacity contrary to Section 44 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Akousa Sakyiwaa, 37, of Orange Grove, Leytonstone, charged with seven counts of ill treatment or neglect of a person without capacity contrary to Section 44 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and one charge of common assault contrary to Section 39 Criminal Justice Act 1988.

The charges relate to a police enquiry into conduct at Whipps Cross hospital, Leytonstone.


All three will appear on bail on at Thames Magistrates' Court on October 31. 

Armed Drug Dealer Locked-Up

A small-time cannabis dealer – caught with a loaded revolver when police raided his North London home – is starting a five-year prison sentence.

Ben Ashley, 23, (pictured) of All Saints Close, Edmonton had the firearm on his living-room shelf when officers executed a search warrant on August 20.

The Met's Central Task Force – which specialises in hunting firearms and drug dealers - had targeted Ashley.

He pleaded guilty at Wood Green Crown Court to possession of a firearm and possession of nine rounds of ammunition loaded in the gun, plus two rounds wrapped in black plastic.

Ashley also pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis, with intent to supply, after a quantity of the drug, plus self-seal plastic bags and scales were seized in the kitchen.

Passports taken during a local burglary were also found and the defendant admitted receiving stolen goods.

Detective Inspection Rob Murray said: “This significant sentence was the result of a successful operation by the Central Task Force and highlights our commitment to combating this type of serious criminality which blights communities.”

Dentist Caught In Web Of Lies

An Iraqi dentist today admitted lying about his experience and qualifications to secure employment at a Central London practise.

Pshko Rabaty, 36, of Nexus Court, Malvern Road, West Hampstead will return to Harrow Crown Court for sentencing after the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

He pleaded guilty to fraud between February 17, 2008 and February 14, 2009 by supplying false particulars regarding his skills and experience relating to employment as a dental practitioner, namely that he was formerly a senior house officer in periodontal and maxillofacial surgery.

Rabaty also admitted a similar count of fraud relating to between October 2002 and December 2005.

He pleaded not guilty to four other counts and these were ordered to lie on the file.

On his Linkedin profile Rabaty describes himself as a doctor employed at the Marble Arch Medical and Dental Centre.

Race-Hate Cyclist Nicked For Spitting In Tram Driver's Face

A race-hate cyclist spat in the face of a Chinese tram driver he called a “f***ing chinky” when ordered to remove his bike.

Jobless Dominic Hamilton-Gray, 25, was ordered to attend an anger management course as he just avoided jail for the nasty attack.

He was sentenced at Croydon Magistrates Court today to four months imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, and placed under the supervision of the probation service for a year.

Hamilton-Gray of Farquhar Road, Crystal Palace pleaded guilty to racially aggravated common assault at Elmers End tram stop on May 3.

The prosecutor told the court: “The driver saw he was pushing a bike onto the tram and told him it was prohibited under the by-laws.

“Hamilton-Gray did not react well and became aggressive and refused to get off the tram when told it would not be going anywhere.

“He said the the driver, who is of Chinese heritage: 'You f***ing chinky. You should not be here, you should go back to your own country.'

“Hamilton-Gray got off the train and as he did spat at Mr. Lee and this spit landed on his face.

“This was an offence that took place during the course of the victim's work and was particularly insulting, coupled with the words that were used.”

Hamilton-Gray's lawyer said: “He does regret remourse for his behaviour. This seems to have been a spontaneous emotional outburst.”

The court heard the defendant has an IQ of 55 and ADHD.

“He is a heavy user of cannabis and this increases when he has difficulties in his day to day life.

“He has an inability to deal wity daily circumstances and is a vulnerable adult who is easily led.” 

Life For "Sadistic" Murderer Who Finished Off Helpless Victim With Fridge

A “sadistic” murderer, whose victim endured a brutal 35-minute ordeal in a supermarket car park, has been caged for life.

Cameron McFly, 38, (pic.top) of Herlwyn Gardens, Hebdon Road, Tooting even dropped a fridge, which he recovered from a nearby skip, on 37 year-old Richard Ward (pic.bottom).

Street beggar McFly claimed the victim had snatched his pet dog and forced it into a fight.

He was convicted at the Old Bailey of murdering Mr. Ward in St. John's Hill, Battersea on November 7, last year and must serve a minimum of 24 years.

Alleged accomplice Danny Samuel, 36, was cleared of murder.

Police were contacted at 11.45pm about an injured man found behind a supermarket and Battersea local Mr. Ward was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem at St George's Mortuary gave the cause of death as head injuries.



An investigation was launched by the Homicide and Serious Crime Command. 



On November 9 detectives arrested McFly in connection with the murder and he was charged with murder the following day.

Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons said: “This was a particularly sadistic murder that took place over thirty-five minutes during which the victim was led away to a secluded spot off a busy high street, and then subjected to unprovoked, sudden, repeated and sustained violence.

“His attacker left and returned to the scene on five separate occasions, even taking a drink break at a local supermarket during this awful incident.

“Richard Ward was an innocent and unsuspecting victim who was simply picked on by Cameron McFly. 



“Richard's family have had to endure the painstaking details of the death of their loved one which included as his final act, Cameron McFly using a discarded mini fridge from a skip as a final weapon.

“Richard Ward's family have shown great dignity during this disturbing trial and I hope that their heartache is in some small way alleviated by today's verdict.”

Police Spoil Paedo's Sick Plans

A paedophile – arrested on the day he was due to meet and sexually abuse a child – has been jailed for three year and eight months.

Gerald Ingram, 63, (pictured) of Priory Gardens, Highgate, North London also peddled the most obscene child pornography

The operation was led by the Metropolitan Police's Paedophile Unit, who arrested Ingram on May 22.

He pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court attempting to arrange or facilitate a child sex offence, making indecent images and distributing indecent images.

Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh said: “The prosecution of Ingram demonstrates the commitment of the Paedophile Unit to target the most dangerous sex offenders and protect the most vulnerable.

“I am in no doubt that police intervention prevented Ingram accessing and sexually assaulting a child on the day of his arrest.

“I believe that he may have committed other offences and I would therefore urge anyone who believes they may have been a victim to have the confidence to report the incident to police.

“We are here to support and protect you.” 

Rolex Raider Gets Time

A smash-and-grab Rolex robber – left behind by his motorbike gang during a daring sledgehammer daylight raid – has been jailed for six-and-a-half years.

Luke Doyle, 27, (pictured) of Cleveland Road, Islington was caught after the four-strong gang smashed the windows of Fraser Hart Jewellers in the Bentall Centre, Kingston-upon-Thames.

He pleaded guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court to robbing the store of twelve Rolex watches on June 25.

It was 9.10am when the four robbers pulled up on two motorbikes outside the jewellers, using two sledgehammers to smash the windows and snatch the watches from the display.

Doyle ended up on foot and was arrested in shortly afterwards.

The rest of the gang are still wanted by the Flying Squad and some of the watches have been recovered.

Any witnesses or anyone that can assist police should call 020 8247 4804 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Jail For Dementia Carer Who Drugged Residents

A senior carer at a Southern Cross nursing home, who drugged six dementia patients with anti-insomnia, anti-depressant and anti-psychotic pills so she could get a good night's sleep, was jailed for three years today.

The patients, four women and two men, who usually wandered around during the night, often had to be taken to bed in wheelchairs after the unprescribed doses and were unsteady on their feet and suffered slurred speech.

Romanian-born Mirela Aionoaei, 37, of Pikestone Close, Hayes (pictured) routinely shoved two chairs together to form a makeshift bed during the night shift and drugged the patients to ensure she would not be disturbed.

"You were responsible for administering prescribed medication for residents suffering dementia," Harrow Crown Court Judge Alan Greenwood told the first-time offender.

"What you gave them were sleeping pills or pills designed to get them to sleep and once they did fall asleep they were taken to their beds in wheelchairs.

"You took their prescribed medication out of their blister packets, but did not give it to them and disposed of them elsewhere.

"You were in a position of trust. You were a carer of these people suffering dementia, unable to care for themselves or be conscious of their surroundings."

Aionoaei was convicted of six counts of administering a poison or noxious substance to the six residents of Ashwood Care Centre, Derwent Drive, Hayes between July 1 and December 31, 2010.

She moved to the UK in 2003, started working at the home a year later and up until these convictions had never been in trouble with the police.

"When she gave them the wrong pill and they fell asleep she failed to give them the right pill," added Judge Greenwood. "That makes it doubly dangerous."

He ruled the charges were equivalent to a conviction for grievous bodily harm and Aionoaei would be sentenced accordingly.

The defendant's most popular drug of choice to illegally administer to the residents was anti-depressant Citalopram and she also used the sleeping pill Zopiclone.

"She was trusted to look after them and take care of them and she abused that trust. That puts it at the top end of offending," said the judge.

Aionoaei's lawyer told the court no harm was done to the residents by unknowingly taking the medication, describing his client as "well respected" at the home with the responsibility of trainng staff.

"The residents were being poisoned, of that there is no doubt," said prosecutor Mr. Guy Dilliway-Parry during the trial. "The defendant liked to sleep when on duty. Why else put two chairs together?

"She was seen to administer on many occasions over a considerable period of time and the residents would fall asleep almost straight away.

"A sleep so deep they would have to be taken to their beds in wheelchairs."

There were twenty-two residents on the dementia ward - aged between 58 and over 100 years-old - and Aionoaei was the senior member of staff in charge and the only one permitted to dispense medicine as a trained and authorised health professional.

"They all suffered from mental health conditions that left them vulnerable and unaware of their surroundings," explained Mr. Dilliway-Parry. "They could do very little for themselves.

"Some would walk around at night and needed hourly checks, but Aionoaei would put two chairs together and go to sleep, even if the residents were walking around.

"Her priority seemed to get some sleep herself."

A suspicious colleague began observing Aionoaei because the residents only became excessively drowsy when she was on duty and she was keen to get them into bed only thirty minutes into her shift.

"She was observed approaching residents with a glass of orange juice in one hand and observed putting a small cream-coloured tablet in the residents' mouths and they would all be asleep within five to eight minutes.

"She had taken something from the pocket of her overalls and the drugs trolley remained untouched in the nurse's station.

"Other staff noticed the residents were very sleepy after being administered medication by Aionoaei. They would be unsteady on their feet and slur their words more than usual."

On January 31, last year the suspicions were reported to police and hair samples were taken from a total of nine residents - one at their post mortem - and six returned positive for the presence of unprescribed drugs.

Among them were a fast-acting sleeping pill, which usually works for six hours, a drug prescribed to patients with depression and panic attacks, which has a side-effect of drowsiness and an anti-psychotic drug used to treat restlessness.

"They were detected in the hair samples and had been administered over a considerable period of time," added the prosecutor. "It shows they were being drugged."

ASBO Accountant Dodges Jail Again In Long-Running Dispute

ASBO Accountant Roger Gloucester-Trotman & Access Road

An accountant involved in a bitter parking and access dispute, which he says claimed the life of his son and £200,000 in legal bills, received a suspended sentence today for three breaches of an ASBO - imposed to protect his long-suffering neighbours.

Roger Jocelyn Gloucester-Trotman, 74, and his late son Ian Trotman, who committed suicide aged 44, owned the service road behind a suburban parade of shops, where the defendant's accountancy business is based.

Planning permission was successfully won - despite local objections -  to build two three-storey townhouses at each end of the road and Gloucester-Trotman tried to stop neighbouring business owners using and parking there despite them having legal access rights.

Since February 2005 Gloucester-Trotman, of Devon Road, Cheam has clocked-up at least ten criminal convictions - mostly breaches of ASBOs and restraining orders - around his business premises in Westmead Road, Carshalton.

A neighbour reported Ian Trotman to police for criminal damage after her boiler flue, which was adjacent to the second development site, was vandalised and he was arrested.

However, on May 28, 2010 his body was discovered in a drain located on the site and an inquest concluded he killed himself by carbon monoxide poisoning.

"He was driven to it by the police," said Gloucester-Trotman, after he was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court to eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He had pleaded guilty to breaching an anti-social behaviour order twice on May 27 and once on June 13, last year.

"A long-standing parking dispute started off these matters," said prosecutor Miss Shazia Ahmed. "In all three incidents separate individuals were approached by the defendant and shouted at that they were murderers and that they had murdered his son."

Last year Gloucester-Trotman was also struck-off by the Institute of Chartered Accountants and fined £1,000 for breaching an ASBO.

His battle with his business neighbours concerning parking and access in the road ended up at Guildford County Court, which ruled against Gloucester-Trotman, costing him £200,000 in legal bills.

During the dispute he dug up the access road on Boxing Day, preventing any vehicles gaining access and parking.

His lawyer Mr. Rhodri James told the court: "It is my plea for him to be given one last chance. These incidents come from what he sees as a lack of road traffic enforcement.

"He went from putting vim and vigour into his accountancy practice to enforcement of road traffic regulations at his home address and at his office.

"The offences are brought about by his inability to grieve and deal with the tragic death of his son and the ASBO and restraining order were imposed to to provide peace and harmony for his neighbours."

A new five-year ASBO order was made by Judge Nicholas Ainley prohibiting Gloucester-Trotman abusing his neighbours, calling 999 except in an emergency and calling police to complain about car parking and the death of his son.

Extradited Pensioner Accused Of Child Sex Abuse Over 60 Years Ago

A Long Way From Wanneroo - Reg Davies Outside Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court

A Welshman – extradited back from Australia to answer child sexual abuse allegations – continues to deny the charges, which stretch back to the 1949.

Ex-serviceman and miner Reginald Davies, 78, now staying in Esbies Estate, Sawbridgeworth, was responsible for an “entrenched pattern of sustained sexual abuse,” the jury were told today.

He denies a total of sixteen offences – including rape – against four girls in Abertridwr, Caerphilly.

Davies, whose wife will give evidence on his behalf during the Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court trial, was extradited from Perth, where he had emigrated over twenty years ago.

The court heard he would lavish the girls with attention and "test the water" by asking them for a kiss, would touch their legs and then forced them into sexual acts.

Hanna Llewellyn-Waters, prosecuting, said: "The defendant nurtured a fear of disclosing the abuse in the complainants when they were children.

"He made them feel that they would not be believed, that they were to blame and, on occasion, he threatened that they would be removed from their parents if they were to report his abuse of them.

"As the complainants grew up, they tried to block the abuse from their minds in order to try to be able to continue with their lives."

Mr Davies faces four charges of child rape, three charges of attempted rape, eight counts of indecent assault, and one count of indecency with a child.

He was arrested last July at his adopted home of Wanneroo on Australia's west coast.

Trial continues.

Unlucky Thirteen Bogus Identities For Jailed Benefit Fraudster

A housing benefit fraudster, who created thirteen separate identities during a five-year £90,000 scam, was jailed for two years today.

Jobless Emmanuel Ikem, 27, of Godstone Road, Kenley, Croydon forged birth certificates, tenancy agreements, utility bills and other documents.

He also had a sideline in insurance fraud, pocketing another £8,000 in payouts for non-existent injuries, but was exposed when his unsuspecting parents reported all the suspicious correspondence arriving at the family home.

"You dedicated considerable effort and thought into your dishonesty," Croydon Crown Court Judge Jeremy Gold QC told tearful Ikem. "It is a shame that did not go into some lawful activity.

"You chose the opposite and chose dishonesty to support yourself over a long period of time, defrauding the public."

Ikem pleaded guilty to thirteen counts of defrauding Croydon Council out of housing benefit payments between February 20, 2007 and June 30, this year.

He also pleaded guilty to three counts of concealing criminal property between March 1, 2007 and June 30, this year and to one count of converting criminal property between April 16, last year and March 1.

Ikem also asked for three offences of insurance fraud committed on February 11, 2009; April 11, 2011 and March 5, this year to be taken into consideration.

"This case involves a fraud in which the defendant made false claims for housing benefit in thirteen different identities and utilised bank accounts to receive the proceeds of these frauds," said prosecutor Mr. Julius Capon.

"The defendant made multiple applications for housing benefit and provided false documents that required considerable planning and he falsified documents to show that he was at those addresses."

Ikem made claims on properties he controlled, were derelict or occupied by an unsuspecting resident.

"A similar style of documents were used, which is how the defendant was linked to all these crimes," added Mr. Capon.

When arrested in June Ikem denied everything, but the prosecutor described it as: "Fraudulent from the outset, sophisticated, pre-planned and prolonged."

Describing his client as a "church-going young father" Ikem's lawyer Mr. Alistair Polson said: "The impact which the whole investigation and court proceedings have been significant.

"He is one of those people whose life got so intertwined, starting with cannabis and then these frauds, that he found being stopped and arrested as a great benefit to him.

"What has happened to Mr. Ikem has taken a great toll on the family."

Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings will follow.

CCTV Robber Caught During Crime Spree

An armed robber has been jailed for fourteen years for a convenience store crime-spree one month after a terrifying home-invasion.

Leon Young, 24, targetted shops in Dagenham and Ilford, East London – holding up five stores in January – and netting around £4,000 in cash.

He admitted the robberies and was convicted by a Chelmsford Crown Court jury of an aggravated burglary in Harlow, Essex in December, last year.

Young received eight years imprisonment for the hold-ups, plus another six years for the burglary.

He had been arrested in February by detectives from the Metropolitan Police Flying Squad.

Young threatened shop staff with a handgun and demanded cash and other goods.

Detective Sergeant Scott Chimes of the Flying Squad said: “I would like to thank the victims and witnesses for the courage they displayed in assisting in this protracted investigation.

“Young has never personally showed any remorse for the frightening crimes he committed during December 2011 to January 2012.

“The sentence passed by Recorder Laird QC sends out a clear deterrent message to those considering committing similar offences.

“I would like to assure businesses and the public within London that the Metropolitan Police Flying Squad will continue to seek out and arrest those engaged in such serious crimes and bring them to justice.”

'Doctor' Gets 12 Years For Raping Schoolgirl

A self-styled doctor and former college principal, who groomed an eleven year-old schoolgirl with internet pornography before raping her in his office, was jailed for twelve years yesterday.

Father-of-three Kamil Hossenbux, 62, who passed himself off as a learned, successful businessman with a phd, gained the trust of the girl's family, even collecting her from school on the day he raped her.

Mauritian-born Hossenbux, of Ferns Close, South Croydon was convicted of raping, sexually assaulting and inciting the girl to engage in sexual activity at his property in Elmwood Road, West Croydon on September 22, 2010.

"I believe this was a case of deception of the family, who believed you to be a friend and benefactor. You passed yourself off as a man of substance, a doctor, but in reality you had a rather grubby criminal record," Croydon Crown Court Judge Ruth Downing told Hossenbux.

"You were going round there because you were intensely interested and obsessed with her. When she was not even eleven you tried it on with her and when rebuffed waited later until she started secondary school.

You are guilty of self-deception in your belief, some sort of perverted belief, that she was ready to learn about sex at the age of eleven and you set about attempting to do that."

Contrary to his family man image the defendant also had an online dating profile, (pic.bottom) seeking relationships with women aged eighteen to thirty-five.

Hossenbux had made online searches for sick under-age material throughout the day, before collecting the victim from school, on the pretext she could use a computer at his private language college.

Prosecutor Miss Karen Holt told the jury the defendant knew the girl's family. "They saw him as an older, learned, intelligent man, who helped the family fill-out documentation and forms.

"He was a trusted friend and began to call on the family home regularly and the Crown say this allowed him to gain access to the victim.

"When alone with her in his car there was an element of grooming and he made suggestive comments to her that she was a big girl now and should start to learn about sex.

"He would hold her hand and touched her leg on one occasion and said it was time she learned about it.

"To use her words they: 'snogged' and he took her clothes off," explained Miss Holt. "She had to sit on a table and he told her to open her legs wide."

The prosecution say Hossenbux then performed a sex act on the girl and forced her to perform one on him.

"The defendant then lied down on the floor and told her to lie on top of him," added the prosecutor, saying this is when the rape occurred.

Hossenbux's lawyer Miss Andrea Ferguson told the court: "He has accepted his guilt of the offences, but he does not go so far as to accept the rape, but does accept much of the other allegations.

"He feels a great deal of regret for the trauma he put this girl through and did not appreciate at the time its seriousness.

"He has not found his first experience of custody easy and his family have been utterly devastated by this conviction. The offence is shocking and distasteful.

"At the time of the offences there were difficulties in his marriage and his wife is now devastated by his incarceration and what has happened."

Hossenbux was also placed on the sex offenders register for life and made subject to a sexual offences prevention order restricting his contact with children and internet use.

Boozy Christmas Party Back Garden Bash

An engineer, who viciously beat a colleague at a works Christmas party, leaving the victim with a collapsed lung, dodged jailed with a suspended sentence today.

Father-of-two John Garratt, 34, (pictured) of Juniper Lane, Flackwell Heath, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, admitted the alcohol-fuelled attack and must now attend anger-management classes.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to inflicting grievous bodily harm on Glenn Smith in the rear garden of an address in Round Grove, Shirley on December 10, last year.

“This was an unpleasant, pretty thorough going over of Mr. Smith,” said Judge Ruth Downing, sentencing Garratt to 11 months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months.

The court heard employees had gathered at the suburban home of one of the firm's bosses and during the evening the defendant, who had been drinking, challenged Mr. Smith to step into the garden.

The victim, who believes a dispute over pay may have been the issue that angered Garratt, was then subjected to an attack with fists and feet.

He sustained bruising all over his body and at one point felt he could not breathe, with doctors later confirming he suffered a collapsed lung as a result of blows to the body.

Garratt initially denied the offence, complaining he had also suffered injuries, but pleaded guilty after the judge indicated the sentence she would pass.

“It has caused him tremendous shame and embarrassment,” Garratt's lawyer Mr. Richard Storey told the court. “He has let himself, his family and his friends down. It is so out of character for him.

“Alcohol was linked to the behaviour, but it is not a problem and he has not had a drink since this incident or gone out socialising.”

Garratt was also ordered to perform 200 hours community serice work, obey a four-month night time curfew, attend an anger management course, pay £660 costs and £750 compensation to Mr. Smith.