Thugs spared jail sentences

Jan 30 2008

TWO drunken thugs who launched a savage attack on a "wholly innocent" man in the street leaving him with a fractured cheekbone and nose have been spared a prison sentence.

Michael Power and David Bradley had both been drinking heavily when they battered Simon Meredith for telling them to stop picking on another man.

Bradley, 24, had been caught on CCTV just minutes earlier kicking a man who was lying on the ground, said Delroy Henry, prosecuting.

He told Wolverhampton Crown Court that Bradley was confronted by an off-duty policewoman after the attack on Mr Meredith and he spat at her a number of times.

Power, 22, of Coldstream Drive, Wordsley, and Bradley, of Brook Crescent, Wall Heath, both Dudley, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Meredith.

Bradley further admitted threatening violence and assaulting Charlene Lowrie and they were both given 12-month jail terms suspended for two years. Power was further ordered to carry out 300 hours community punishment, to pay Mr Meredith £3,000 compensation for his injuries together with £300 costs.

Bradley was also ordered to carry out 300 hours community punishment, ordered to pay £2,000 compensation to Mr Meredith and £300 costs.

The two men were further told they must obey six-month curfew orders between the hours of 7pm and 7am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.