Shrewsbury student tried to pay assault victim £4,000 to drop charges
A university student from Shrewsbury offered £4,000 to the victim of a vicious assault to drop charges against three of his friends who stand accused of attacking him, a court heard.
Callum Trow, aged 21, of Mount Pleasant Road, called George Whitfield to make the offer, saying it would be "compensation" for his injuries.
But Mr Whitfield refused and reported the matter to police.
Shrewsbury Crown Court heard he had been the victim of a "serious assault" while on a night out in Chester on January 24 this year.
Mr Robert Edwards, prosecuting, said a month later, on February 28, Trow left a voicemail on Mr Whitfield's mobile phone.
"An offer was made by this defendant to Mr Whitfield to drop the charges against these three men in return for £4,000," Mr Edwards told the court.
"It was described as compensation instead of going to court.
"Mr Whitfield did not accept that. He reported it to the police and the defendant was subsequently arrested."
Mr Edwards said the three men, who were not named in court, are due to appear at Chester Magistrates Court this week on charges of causing grievous bodily harm.
Trow admitted perverting the course of justice.
Mr Mike Sherwood-Smith, for Trow, said his client was a first-year history and film studies student at Keele University near Stoke with no previous convictions who hoped to become a teacher.
"He said in his intoxicated state he did not realise how serious it was," Mr Sherwood-Smith said.
"He was friendly with both sides. It is clear that the people did not put Mr Trow up to this, it was clearly his idea.
"There was no threats or intimidation, its rather a rambling and incompetent attempt to become involved and intervene."
Recorder Nigel Daly sentenced Trow to six months in prison, but suspended the jail term for a period of two years. Trow was also ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work.
