Thugs sent to jail over assault in Dudley street

Three thugs have been jailed for punching and kicking a "vulnerable" 59-year-old man who had remonstrated with them after they threw a brick at his house, a court heard.

Stewart Dean was targeted by the gang outside his Dudley home in an attack that saw him forced to the floor and bitten by dogs. He suffered cuts to his head and lip and required stitches, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard. The attack left Mr Dean frightened to leave his home and he no longer wants to live in the area, prosecutor Alka Brigue explained.

Rick Ludeke, Christopher Heathcote and Conor Neale were each jailed for 12 months for carrying out the assault, which took place on March 19.

The court was told that the victim was involved in a dispute with a woman and her friends at about 8.30pm over her dog and that one of the group promised that they would be back to "sort him out".

Later that night, Mr Dean was at a neighbour's house when he noticed a group gathering outside his home in Compton Court, Netherton, at about 10.30pm.

Miss Brigue said a brick was thrown towards the victim's house and that he came out to investigate.

She explained: "The group of youths ran away and he chased after them.

He told them to stop and one of them shouted 'what are you going to do about it old man'." The prosecutor said Mr Dean followed the gang into nearby Arley Court, off Swan Street, and was then "drop kicked" by one of the youths before being set upon by the rest of the gang.

Lukeke, aged 25, of Swan Street, Netherton, 21-year-old Neale, also of Swan Street, and Heathcote, 19, of Wychbury Road, Pedmore, each admitted unlawful wounding.

Defence barristers each conceded that only a prison term could follow but asked for that sentence to suspended.

But Judge Michael Dudley explained that only an immediate jail term could be imposed.

He added: "This was a group attack on a vulnerable man.

"He did not suffer lasting physical injury but he did have quite substantial injuries. You were all responsible for what happened to this unfortunate man."