Jailed: Prolific Wolverhampton offender ‘took umbrage’ at able-bodied mobility scooter rider
A prolific offender, high on drugs, ‘took umbrage’ when he saw a physically able man riding around on a mobility scooter, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
John Green was punched in the face twice by angry Kevin Oulton whose disabled mother was on a waiting list for a similar vehicle.
Oulton, who admitted assault, was jailed for two months.
The 39-year-old attacker, who had 32 previous convictions involving 100 separate offences, struck after spotting the scooter being ridden round the Millfield Estate in Bilston around 7pm on July 30, said Miss Joanne Barker, prosecuting.
It belonged to Mr Green’s mother and had been taken by him for a trip to pick up a methadone prescription, it was said.
The prosecutor continued: “The defendant approached him, asked if he wanted to buy some crack and, after being told he was not going to be given any money, punched the injured party twice.”
Mr Green then got off the scooter and went to a nearby house to raise the alarm but while there saw his attacker riding off on the vehicle. He made an unsuccessful bid to give chase.
It was finally found, abandoned and damaged, at the back of a block of flats two days later after he ‘put out the word’ that it was missing, the court heard.
Miss Barker concluded: “There had been arguments between Mr Green and his mother because she needs the scooter to get about and was left housebound.”
Oulton, now of Carder Crescent, Bilston, was homeless, short of money and under the influence of cocaine at the time, said Mr Ian Ball, defending, who added: “He was annoyed to see the other man on the mobility scooter because his own mother is on a waiting list for one.
“He knew this scooter belonged to the mother of Mr Green and was not trying to steal it. He said he asked a couple of lads to return it.”
Mr Ball conceded: “His criminal record is appalling but he is a man who has a long standing cocaine problem.”
Oulton, who told the court he was now ‘clean’ of drugs after being held in custody since his arrest on August 1, admitted assault and was jailed for two months.
Judge James Burbidge QC told him: “You took umbrage when you saw the other man on a mobility scooter, although it is not clear to me why you felt you had the high moral ground on this. You well knew that it was required as a necessity by somebody.”
