A YOUNG man who launched ‘a completely unprovoked attack’ in the street, hitting his victim over the head with a martial arts rice-flail, has been jailed.
And a judge at Warwick Crown Court told Macaulay Jackson to ‘keep your fists in your pocket and walk off’ in the future.
Jackson (22) of Lower Holyhead Road, Coventry, was jailed for 12 months after pleading guilty to charges of assault and possessing an offensive weapon.
And, under a little-used power, instead of ordering Jackson to pay a £140 surcharge, Recorder Sam Mainds ordered him to pay that amount in compensation to his victim following his release from prison.
Prosecutor Philip Beardwell said that in the early hours of March 28 James Barr left a night club in Coventry city centre with a group of people.
They were in Lower Holyhead Road heading towards McDonalds when he was approached by Jackson who asked if any of them had a cigarette.
Mr Barr said no, and when Jackson asked if they were sure, a woman with Mr Barr responded by saying: “That’s a stupid question. I know, I don’t smoke.”
Mr Barr had turned away, and when he turned back, he saw Jackson running towards him, and told him: “Go on your way, we’re not looking for trouble.”
But Jackson pulled a martial arts rice flail or nunchucks from his waistband and swung it at Mr Barr, connecting with a heavy blow to his temple, breaking his glasses.
That was followed by more blows with the weapon to his head before he managed to grab hold of Jackson and take him to the ground, after which Jackson got to his feet and ran off.
Mr Barr was taken to a nearby flat from where the police were called, and he was found to have bruising to his temple and forehead, a cut to the bridge of his nose, and a large lump to the crown of his head.
Jackson, whose convictions included one for wounding with intent, for which he was jailed for 32 months in February last year, was arrested after being identified from a CCTV recording, and said he could not recall the incident.
On being shown the recording, he accepted it was him, but said he had no idea where he had come by the weapon, adding: “Clearly it’s me. Sorry to the victim. Clearly it’s my fault.”
David Murray, defending, conceded: “It has to be accepted there were a number of blows.”
He said Jackson had been released on licence at the end of January, and as a result of the attack has been recalled to serve the remaining 12 months of his previous sentence.
And of the statutory surcharge which is normally imposed, Mr Murray pointed out that if compensation was ordered and a defendant did not have the means to pay both, he could be ordered to pay the compensation rather than the surcharge.
Sentencing Jackson, Recorder Mainds told him: “You know you have a problem. I’m going to give you a piece of advice: if you see trouble, put your fists in your pocket and walk off.
“It’s going to happen in the future that someone’s going to wind you up and you’re going to react and let yourself down and let your mum down.”
