A man had his cheekbone broken in four places when he was attacked and robbed in Heckmondwike on his way home from a night out.
Camille Morland prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court today the victim Richard Fisher, 25, had been out with friends and then called at a pizza shop before walking towards Morrisons smoking and minding his own business on the evening of November 2 last year.
He saw a group of three young men and one of them Jack Cunningham asked for a cigarette. He told him he only had a few left.
One of the others Lewis Jackson then asked for a slice of his pizza to which Mr Fisher replied: “I don’t think so.”
Jackson asked him why he was getting “cheeky” but Mr Fisher ignored him and walked on to Beck Lane but the pair and a 16-year-old youth followed climbing over a wall and Jackson got in front of him aggressively asking “Do you know who I am?”
Miss Morland said when Mr Fisher replied he didn’t care that made Jackson even more aggressive. As he tried to walk away he went towards him and punched him, he knew he was going to lose consciousness and felt another blow to the top of his head before he passed out.
“While he was unconscious on the floor the defendants searched him, took his coat, phone, wallet, keys and cigarettes,” said Miss Morland.
Other people went to his assistance, he was taken to his sister’s home and then to hospital after the police were called. His right cheekbone was fractured in four places, he had cuts and swelling to his head which had to be glued and he had a black eye.
Miss Morland said he described how since he was wary for his personal safety if out and had lost self- confidence.
Jackson was caught because his SIM card was used in Mr Fisher’s phone.
While on bail he was involved in further offences following a problem with other youths in the area where he lived.
On April 4 this year after he arrived home to Lavender Croft, Heckmondwike he picked up a metal pole which was a rail from a wardrobe and in a confrontation in his hallway swung it towards someone .
Another of the group James Birchall tried to intervene putting his hand up to protect his friend and Jackson then swung it at him. He blocked it with his hand but suffered a wound to his palm which needed 24 stitches.
Miss Morland said Mr Day went further into Jackson’s home and ended up grappling with him in the bedroom where he suffered a superficial cut to his finger.
Alex Menary representing Jackson said he regretted the punch to Mr Fisher and the consequences for him. The later offences arose after he suffered damage to his property and on the day in question reacted to aggression towards him.
Adam Birkby for Cunningham said his involvement was “a blip and completely out of character for him.”
Jackson, 18, admitted the earlier robbery, unlawful wounding, assault causing actual bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon. He was sent to a young offender institution for a total of three years.
Cunningham, 22, of Cawley Lane, Heckmondwike, admitted robbery and was jailed for 20 months.
Recorder Tony Hawks said the robbery was committed after they would not leave Mr Fisher alone. “You pursued him, you pressed him and then you Jackson punched him unconscious. He went to the ground where you rummaged through his belongings, basically stripping him of his coat, phone, wallet and cigarettes and left him unconscious.”
“It was a thoroughly unpleasant offence.”
He said he accepted there had been a background to the later offences involving a dispute with local youths. Jackson had sought help from the police and whatever the rights and wrongs of it “on this particular occasion it got out of hand.”
