Man headbutted and kicked after confronting neighbour over Covid rule-breaking party

[dutchman]

The victim stormed out of court as his attackers avoided being jailed



A man was headbutted, punched and kicked after complaining about his young neighbour hosting a get-together during the first coronavirus lockdown.

But despite his injuries leaving painter and decorator Keith Ebanks unable to work, his two vicious attackers escaped being jailed when they appeared at Warwick Crown Court.

And Mr Ebanks was so enraged that he stormed from the court after their punishment was read out.

Oliver Crabtree and Jordan Band had both pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm – and their pleas of being not guilty to doing so with intent were accepted by the prosecution.

They were both sentenced to two years in prison suspended for two years and ordered to do 300 hours of unpaid work each and to take part in rehabilitation activities.

In addition, Crabtree, 22, of Bath Street, Leamington, was ordered to pay £1,500 in compensation to Mr Ebanks, with 21-year-old Band, of Baker Drive, Wellesbourne, ordered to pay him £1,000.

Sentencing the two, Recorder Mark Watson told them: “It is not, in terms of this type of offence, the most serious level of injury, although of course it is serious.

“It was undoubtedly higher culpability. The use of your head and feet make it so, and there is the aggravating feature that it was outside Mr Ebanks’s own home.

“But there are features which reduce the starting point – your lack of convictions and the remorse you have shown.

“I take the view that you two behaved in a way which was out of keeping with the character you both have. You have let yourselves down enormously.”

As their victim stormed out of the public gallery on hearing the sentence, Recorder Watson added: “Mr Ebanks may anticipate that the two of you richly deserve custody for what you did, but the decision is mine.”