Shrewsbury man jailed for knuckleduster attack
A man who said he was sticking up for his family when he hit someone with a knuckleduster has been jailed for eight months.
Gareth Locke, 23, was told by Judge Robin Onions at Shrewsbury Crown Court that whatever had been said by the victim, he could not take the law into his hands.
Locke, of York Road, Shrewsbury, admitted assaulting James Barnes in Kynaston Road on April 29. He also admitted possessing a knuckleduster.
John Evans, prosecuting, said Mr Barnes was not seriously injured, but was left with a pattern of cuts that police said were consistent with use of such a weapon.
Locke admitted hitting Mr Barnes "three or four" times, but initially said the cuts he was left with must have been down to a ring he was wearing at the time, though he later admitted having the knuckleduster.
Locke told police: "I lost my temper and gave him a thrashing, as anyone would do if someone had threatened their little brother." Emma Lineton, for Locke, said his response was down to immaturity rather than any lack of remorse or empathy with his victim. She said Locke was a "vulnerable young man" who had learning difficulties and was partially deaf.
"He has been ridiculed for his difficulties," she said, "he struggles with anger management and has poor thinking skills."
She said he knew that he was likely to go to prison for the assault.
Judge Robin Onions said the fact that Locke had repeatedly referred to Mr Barnes as a "grass" for reporting the assault showed that his values were "completely warped".
He said: "Possession and use of knuckleduster is a very serious matter."
He said he did not know the nature of Mr Barnes' comments about Locke's family, "but we do not live in a society in which people can take the law into their own hands".
He sentenced Locke to two months in custody for the assault and six months for possession of the knuckleduster. He was also ordered to pay a £100 victim surcharge.
