Suspended sentence for Sedgley bike theft victim
Disgruntled Brent Cotterell ended up in the dock after his bike was stolen.
The 34-year-old blamed a neighbour and took the law into his own hands instead of calling the police, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday. He threatened the suspect with a knife and warned the person he had 24 hours to return the missing machine, revealed Mr Nicholas Cartwright, prosecuting. The next day Cotterell attacked him with a chair leg in the hallway of the Black Country block where both lived around 7pm on September 4, the court heard.
The victim was hit at least three times on the head, body and legs before reaching the safety of his own flat, but had not cooperated with the authorities during the subsequent investigation of the incident that left him with cut and tissue damage that needed hospital treatment, it was said.
Mr Cartwright explained: "The defendant got it into his head that his bike had been stolen by one of his neighbours.
This man denied being involved.
"On September 3 Cotterell threatened the person with a knife and told him he had a day to return the missing bicycle.
"The police were not informed about this incident.
"When the defendant saw the man again the following day he shouted at him before coming after him armed with the a table leg he later said was kept by his front door.
"The other man got as far as the communal hallway before receiving blows to his head, back and legs.
"He was struck at least three times.
"He called the police after managing to get inside his flat."
Cotterell from North Springfield Road, Sedgley, who had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding and was given a 10 month jail sentence, suspended under supervision for 18 months with 80 hours unpaid work and £500 costs.
Judge John Wait told him: "You believed that a neighbour had stolen your bicycle but he did not admit doing this and you did not get the machine back.
"As a result you lost your temper and, while your judgment was affected by alcohol, decided to take the law into your own hands rather than reporting the matter to the police.
"You caused unpleasant injuries.
"But because of your lack of previous convictions and my hope that you will not break the law again, I will suspend the inevitable prison sentence."
