Worker jailed after attack on ex-boss

A sacked Currys worker has been jailed for almost four years after taking revenge against his former boss who gave evidence against him for stealing from the electrical store in Wolverhampton.

Anthony Raybone, aged 23, savagely attacked the warehouse manager, who spoke out in court against him, after the pair met by chance on a bus.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how he frogmarched terrified Ajay Verma from the double decker to a city centre alleyway where he rained kicks, punches and racial insults on the victim in an hour-long ordeal.

The beating only stopped when two security guards came to the rescue of Mr Verma, who had worked alongside Raybone at the Currys store in St John's Retail Park, Snow Hill, said Miss Raj Punia, prosecuting.

Police were called but Raybone, of Spencer Avenue, Coseley, denied the violence.

Then, more than a year later while awaiting trial, he lay in wait for Mr Verma at Dudley bus station, the court was told yesterday.

Miss Punia said: "He demanded that Mr Verma drop the charges and told him 'I know where you live and will shoot you and your family'.

Arrest

"Mr Verma then contacted the police and informed them that he did not want to proceed with the case but also told them why.

"Raybone was arrested again and on the day of his trial, where Mr Verma was in court and prepared to give evidence against him, changed his plea to guilty at the 11th hour."

Raybone admitted racially aggravated assault in February 2008 and witness intimidation in March this year. He was jailed for three years and nine months.

Mr Verma later told police: "He took it upon himself to blame me for his arrest for theft from Currys when I was simply unfortunate enough to be his colleague at the time.

"I am now very scared all the time and worried about the consequences for my family and myself."

Mr Robert Cowley, defending, said: "The words were designed to insult and humiliate. There had never been comments like that when they worked together."

By John Scott