Sandwell man jailed after garage owner left disabled in pickaxe handle attack

The victim Peter Crofts suffered a serious fracture to his left arm when he put his hand up to try to defend himself from the attack by Ashley Mason.

Mr Crofts now had restricted movement movement in his hand which was likely to be permanent and he was facing the prospect of further surgery.

Judge Michael Challinor told Mason, of Ivy Road, Tipton, it was clear he had been aiming at the head of victim Peter Crofts adding: "You could have fractured his skull causing catastrophic injuries.

"This was not only grievous bodily harm but it left the victim disabled in circumstances where he needs both hands to work as a mechanic," said Judge Challinor at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday.

The offence, he added, was the culmination of a dispute between the families and it followed an incident in which Mr Crofts' car window was smashed when 'it is perfectly clear the culprit was someone in the Mason group.'

The Judge said 27-year-old Mason and a number of others then set out to attack Mr Crofts while armed with weapons and when he came out of his home he was struck with the pickaxe handle.

"I accept there was some provocation from the Croft party and that he has a conviction for damaging a car belonging to your group," he went on. "That does not excuse in any way what you did."

Mason had pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent but he was convicted by a jury at the end of his trial.

Mr John Brotherton defending said there had been a feud between the families