Thugs left victim covered in blood after Stourbridge petrol station attack
Two thugs who left a man seriously injured and covered in blood in an attack at a petrol station have both escaped immediate prison sentences.
Aaron Edwards suffered a fractured jaw in the unprovoked attack which began as he queued with a friend at the night pay window at a BP petrol station in Stourbridge, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
He was accused by Samantha Harper at the pay window of insulting her before she threw a punch at him.
Edwards' friend then attempted to stop the violence from escalating before three other men sprinted across the forecourt towards them.
They included Ashleigh Round and Alan Buckingham, who both set upon the pair.
The court was shown CCTV footage of the forecourt violence, which took place just after 2am in March 2013.
Mr Delroy Henry, prosecuting, said: "Miss Harper said to Mr Edwards 'are you talking about me?'
"Both gentlemen started to laugh in response because they weren't.
"She said 'you called me a bit of a fat cow'.
"Out of nowhere she punched Mr Edwards to the face. It was quite clear there was no provocation or anything like it."
The court heard how Round, 23, of Wynall Lane, Stourbridge, then pushed Mr Edwards' friend, a Mr Oakes, 'forcefully' to the ground.
Buckingham, aged 19, of Claycroft Place, Lye, was shown picking up a traffic cone and hurling it towards the same victim.
He also stamped on Mr Edwards as he lay on the floor, the court heard.
Mr Henry said Round was also seen 'kicking and throwing punches at the very least' towards Mr Edwards.
Round was given a nine month prison sentence, suspended for two years, at the crown court this week. Harper, aged 29, of Seymour Road, Lye, received a eight month jail term, which was also suspended for two years.
Both had pleaded guilty to affray.
Round must also carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and Harper 180 hours. Both were told to pay £550 in court costs.
Buckingham has admitted a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm and is awaiting sentencing.
Mr Henry described how petrol station worker Joanne Watts came to the aid of the blood-soaked Mr Edwards after the attack.
Mr Henry said: "His recollection was rather blurry but in the immediate aftermath he was covered in blood and received assistance from Joanne Watts, who called an ambulance.
"Clearly there were significant injuries sustained, including a fractured jaw.
"She was clearly of the view the two lads had done nothing wrong."
