Assault victim enticed to Wednesbury scrubland before attack, court told
A teenager accused of being involved in an attack on a man he suspected of stealing £1,000 from him, has told a court he never intended any violence.
Nathan Taylor, aged 18, told Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday that he and his friends had only intended to 'have a chat' with assault victim Deon Bolding on May 12.
Mr Bolding had been enticed to scrubland behind the Woden Inn in Wednesbury under the pretence that he was meeting Finnish exchange student Saara Tiri, who he met the night before, following text messages that were sent from her phone.
But instead he was met by Taylor's friend Muhammed Abu, aged 20, of Grindleford Road, Great Barr, who hit Mr Bolding over the head with a metal breaker bar.
He has already pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent.
Taylor, from St Ives Road, Park Hall, Walsall, believed Mr Bolding had broken into his car and stolen £1,000 while it was parked outside a pub the previous night.
Taylor told the court he had asked Abu to attend the meeting 'because he was more street wise'.
His defence barrister Ms Rebecca Nieto asked Taylor what he had asked Abu to do.
He replied: "Just to have a general chat with Mr Bolding to see if he had any knowledge of my money."
If Mr Bolding admitted that he knew what had happened the previous night, Taylor said he would then have gone to the police.
Describing the incident, Taylor said he and his co-defendant, a 17-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons, waited at the top of a hill around 40 to 50 paces away to watch the meeting unfold 'as back-up' in case Mr Bolding reacted.
Taylor said: "At the start I saw a verbal word or two, and then pointing to where I believe Saara was supposed to be.
"Then Mr Bolding turned back around to speak to Mr Abu, there was chatting, talking, then I believe I saw Mr Bolding turn around and walk up."
Taylor said he didn't see Abu land the blow but described a 'cracking' sound, and he and the 17-year-old then ran away to a nearby alleyway. Asked if he had planned or appreciated that any assault might take place, Taylor replied: "No, I never wanted anything to happen to Mr Bolding."
Taylor and the 17-year-old both deny grievous bodily harm with intent.
The trial continues.
