Notts man battered brother with wheel-brace in sneak attack for car vandalism

Brandon Newton left the Tavern pub at around 9pm on August 25 last year, and went to the family home on Brookfield Avenue, Sutton, after learning two windows on his VW Golf were smashed.

A witness saw him retrieve either a golf club or metal bar from the boot, enter the house "surreptitiously,” and launch a "protracted assault" of between ten and 15 blows, prosecutor Jon Fountain told Nottingham Crown Court, on Thursday.

Newton returned to the Tavern, and CCTV recorded him sitting at a table with his father, where he was "plainly extremely remorseful."

"He was not so remorseful as to wait to be arrested," said Mr Fountain. "Instead he left the pub and was not arrested until August 31."

His brother woke up on the floor and phoned a friend for help, who found him bleeding from the head and mouth, and drifting in and out of consciousness.

Surgeons at Nottingham's QMC Hospital fitted three metal plates into his brother’s jaw, which was broken in two places, and treated lacerations on his scalp.

Newton has three previous convictions, including battery from 2016, for which he received a referral order.

Bianca Brasoveanu, mitigating, said it was "the result of spur of the moment anger" and his victim made a complete recovery.

She said Newton witnessed his brother's recovery as a "constant reminder of his shameful actions."

"They now work together," she said. "He was devastated and appalled afterwards. He describes it as the worst weekend of his life."

She told the court the boys were "foolishly competing for their father's attention."

Newton's brother had provided a character reference for him, Ms Brasoveanu said, which showed that "blood was thicker than water, or thicker than an alcohol-fuelled disagreement."

Newton, aged 21, of Elder Street, Kirkby, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on October 1.

Recorder Paul Mann QC sentenced him to 18 months, suspended for 24 months, and ordered him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay a victim surcharge of £32.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.