John William Morris, 43, was jailed for 28 months for the attack, which left his victim needing hospital treatment in Stoke
A man suffered a fractured skull and a bleed to the brain after being attacked on a public footpath in Wrexham.
Attacker John William Morris, 43, who was said to be under the influence of drugs at the time, was jailed for 28 months.
Morris, of no fixed address but formerly of Bradley Road in Wrexham, was due to go on trial at Mold Crown Court on a charge of wounding with intent.
But his guilty plea to the lesser charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm was accepted by the prosecution.
The court heard that both men were heavily addicted to drugs at the time.
Prosecuting barrister Elen Owen said that, one evening in October of last year, the ambulance service was called after victim James Foster-Jones, who was in his early 40s, returned home badly injured.
He was taken to hospital and transferred to a specialist head injury treatment centre in Stoke with a fractured skull and a bleed to the brain. He also had a wound behind the left ear.
He had told his mother and sister that Morris was responsible but police were unable to interview Mr Foster-Jones for some time because of the extent of his injuries.
When they interviewed him later, his speech was still affected.
He said he had gone to the area to get drugs. He had been pushing his bicycle along a public footpath when out of nowhere he was struck with force.
He believed he had been hit with a piece of wood and was then struck another three times while on the ground.
He looked up and saw his attacker with his face covered but immediately recognised it as Morris.
Miss Owen said the victim recognised his voice and his distinctive blue coat.
He remembered very little after the attack until he was in hospital.
He was now much better, although his speech was slightly affected.
He had numbness to his thumb and two index fingers, although the medics could not rule out the cause of that being long term drug abuse.
The victim had been left with a marked dent to his head.
There was evidence of telephone contact between the two men earlier in the day.
Defending barrister Philip Tully said it was fortunate injury was not permanent and the complainant had been discharged from hospital last April, which was some considerable time ago.
“I am afraid the offence is down to a sad state of affairs and background,” he said.
“Both men were at the time addicted to drugs and were moving in the same circles.
“They were heavy drug users. The offence occurred on the spur of the moment with no evidence of premeditation."
Judge Niclas Parry told Morris that, while out of control of his senses on drugs, he carried out a cowardly attack with a weapon.
“It was an extremely dangerous attack which involved repeatedly striking an equally vulnerable man,” the judge said.
“It caused truly serious injuries, a fractured skull and a bleed to the brain, which has left continuing difficulties.”
Judge Parry said that the attack was aggravated by the defendant’s appalling criminal record – he had 177 previous convictions, 10 of them for violence.
But he said nine of the 10 violence convictions were more than 20 years old.http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/wrexham-drug-addict-fractured-victims-12321334
No comments:
Post a Comment