Plasterer jailed for assaulting two teens

Johnathan Edward Hammond appeared before Mansfield Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 8th October charged with assaulting the 14-year-old and 16-year-old youths.

The incident occurred on 1st September this year after Hammond (30), of Clipstone Road West, in Forest Town, had been drinking heavily, the court was told.

The court was told that the father-of-five had been suffering from mental illness in the weeks prior to the attack and he had threatened to take his own life. Hammond had been forced to work extremely long hours and had sunk into a deep depression, the court was told.

He had been working seven days per week and had not been getting home until around 9pm each night, magistrates were told.

Weeks before the attack, he had set fire to his own car after he caused it minor damage in an accident. He also climbed into the loft of his home with a rope and a bottle of whiskey and planned to hang himself.

But he was talked down by his partner and one of their children, the court was told.

Hammond had later sought help from mental health professionals for his condition, the court heard.

Sentencing, District Judge Diane Baker said Hammond had previous convictions for domestic violence .

“You are clearly remorseful for what has happened but you had drunk far too much,” she said.

“One of the boys you attacked had merely come to the defence of his brother.”

Hammond was jailed for a total of 16 weeks but is expected to serve half the sentence in the community.