Shropshire Star

Jailed: Telford man, 23, in 'revenge' assault

A Telford man has been jailed for a "revenge" attack in which the victim was chased and punched in the head.

Published

Aaron Jenkins, 23, of Burton Dale, Brookside, attacked Andrew Marsden in broad daylight at Telford Bus Station, with members of the public witnessing the assault as it unfolded.

Jenkins, who was jailed for nine months by Judge Jonathan Gosling, had been found guilty of charges of taking revenge, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm following a trial.

Rupert Jones, prosecuting, said Jenkins had seen his victim on November 29 last year, and had shouted abuse at him, calling him a "grass".

The insult was a reference to information Mr Marsden had given to the police about a burglary.

But Jenkins denied all involvement in the incident and had not been charged.

Shrewsbury Crown Court heard that after seeing his victim Jenkins had pulled him by his rucksack and had repeatedly punched him in the head, causing cuts to the back of Mr Marsden's head.

Julian Harris, defending, said Jenkins had a strong work ethic and was looking to take up an apprenticeship.

He added that Jenkins recognised his actions had been "wholly wrong".

Sentencing, Judge Gosling said it had been a "sustained assault".

He said: "This was an attack that took place in the town centre in the middle of the day. It was very busy, one would expect there were kids about, there were plenty of people to see what you did."

He added: "You did not plan this attack, you came across him by chance in the bus station and decided to teach him a lesson as you saw it."

Judge Gosling said he was satisfied the attack had not been provoked and that Jenkins' accusation that Mr Marsden had "smirked" at him did not count as provocation.

Judge Gosling said the offence was more serious because it involved attacking someone for assisting the police.

He told Jenkins: "It is a serious matter to take it out on a person just because they helped the police with their inquiries."

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.