Man jailed for attacking victim with crutch in city centre

A Nuneaton man attacked someone in the street by hitting him over the head with a crutch – just over three months after being freed from a sentence for stabbing a police sergeant.



And after deciding that Mark Dixon is a danger to the public, a judge at Warwick Crown Court imposed an extended prison sentence on him.

Dixon, 43, of Bettina Close, Nuneaton, pleaded guilty to charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and assaulting a police officer.

He was given an extended sentence of four-and-a-half years in prison, of which he will have to serve at least two-thirds, and after his release his time on licence will continue for the rest of the term plus an additional four years.

The court heard Dixon had a number of previous convictions for violence, including assaults on police officers, and in 2006 he was given an indeterminate prison sentence, with a minimum of six years, for wounding with intent and assault.

That had involved an incident outside his home when he had stabbed a police sergeant twice to his upper arm and tried to stab another officer in the chest.

And he was only released on licence from that sentence in April this year, added Mr Singh.

Ian Speed, defending, said Dixon says the incident began after a young lady had been ‘outed from her wheelchair by the victim and dumped on the floor.’

But Mr Speed said that, in view of Dixon’s record, he could not argue against ‘a finding of dangerousness,’ adding: “He knows what’s coming.”

Jailing Dixon, Recorder Thomas Rochford told him: “You had some sort of altercation with the victim. Quite how that situation arose, I’m not sure about; but it is not really of any relevance to what happened later.

“You went to punch him, and a member of the public pushed you away. But you went back to him with your elbow crutch and you struck him twice. Those were blows which were aimed at his head.

“I have considered your previous convictions. In 2006 you were convicted of wounding with intent, for which you received imprisonment for the public protection.

“You had only been released from that in April, and three-and-a-half months after that you’re committing this offence. You are someone who poses a significant risk of serious harm to members of the public by the commission of further offences.”