A man involved in an armed assault in a Lincolnshire town has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison. Samuel Smith, 33, was part of a trio that attacked a man in Ros Knight Gardens, Crowland, on May 24th last year. The victim, who was getting his baby out of his car, was confronted by three masked individuals wielding knives as they emerged from a vehicle.
Smith, a resident of Archer Crescent in Wymondham, Norfolk, pleaded guilty to charges of affray and assault causing actual bodily harm. The victim had been forewarned about Smith’s presence in the vicinity with other men, leading him to attempt a hasty retreat upon spotting the masked assailants. Despite his efforts, he was pursued and assaulted by one of the perpetrators after failing to seek refuge in a neighboring property.
During the attack, the victim endured kicks and sustained repeated blows to the head with what felt like a heavy, metallic object. Following the harrowing incident, he sought medical attention at Peterborough Hospital but opted to discharge himself due to prolonged waiting times. Smith was apprehended two weeks post-assault, with his criminal record revealing 15 prior convictions for 25 offenses, including a seven-year incarceration for grievous bodily harm.
In court, it was revealed that Smith had traveled from Norfolk to Lincolnshire to visit family and was grappling with depression triggered by his brother’s battle with cancer, causing him to halt his prescribed medication. The prosecution acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the identity of the primary assailant but confirmed that the victim was not stabbed and that Smith was not in possession of a knife.
Upon delivering the verdict, Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight emphasized that notwithstanding Smith’s lack of a weapon, his involvement in the attack stemmed from personal animosity towards the victim, which the group collectively acted upon. She noted the masked appearance of the assailants and the presence of some wielding large knives during the assault.
The victim recounted the profound impact of the assault on his family, citing panic attacks and sleep disturbances that prompted them to relocate. A restraining order was issued to prohibit Smith from contacting the victim or his family. The case sheds light on the harrowing consequences of violent altercations and underscores the importance of upholding legal accountability in such instances.
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