Couple jailed for attack on defenceless 64-year-old with mental health problems
A MARRIED couple from North Prospect have received jail sentences for a vicious attack on a defenceless 64-year-old man with mental health problems.
Jonathan and Fiona Handley had both been found guilty at trial of assault causing actual bodily harm.
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Fiona Handley had also admitted assaulting a female mature student, who was punched, kicked and lost three teeth.
Prosecutor Ali Rafati said that on June 29 last year, Fiona Handley attacked a woman at the St Johnstone Social Club at Keyham following an innocent remark which she took as an insult to her teenage son.
The woman was punched, kicked and lost three teeth, suffering facial cuts including one to her mouth apparently caused by a stiletto heel.
In the second incident on October 30 last year, while Fiona Handley was on bail, the couple attacked a 64 year-old man with mental health problems outside the Britannia Inn at Milehouse.
They told police he had boasted of molesting their daughter and then attacked them — an account described by Mr Rafati as "borderline ludicrous".
The man was knocked to the ground, injuring his head, with Fiona Handley then sitting astride him repeatedly punching him as he lay unconscious and defenceless.
Meanwhile her husband, who had drunk nine or 10 pints of real ale, stamped on his head.
Mr Rafati said Fiona Handley had a previous caution for a drunken fight with another woman outside Stoke Social Club when she accused the woman of looking at her husband.
Jonathan Handley had previous convictions for common assault and battery.
Llewellyn Sellick, for Mrs Handley, said she had been in custody for 52 days since her arrest, followed by electronic tagging.
She had emerged from prison chastened and had not touched alcohol since.
Kelly Scrivener, for unemployed Jonathan Handley, said he had held the family together while his wife was in prison, and had been to the doctor for help with his alcohol dependency.
Judge Jeremy Griggs said Fiona Handley, aged 42 and of Greatlands Crescent, North Prospect, had committed two serious assaults.
He sentenced her to a total of 12 months in jail, suspended for two years, with 12 months of supervision by the Probation Service.
He ordered her to do 200 hours of unpaid community work, banned her from both the St Johnstone Social Club and the Britannia Inn for two years, ordered her to pay £250 towards prosecution costs and imposed a 7pm-7am electronically-tagged curfew seven days a week for six months.
The judge told Jonathan Handley, aged 41 and of the same address, that CCTV evidence clearly showed him stamping on the victim's head in his heavy Dr Marten's boots.
Mrs Handley wept at the back of the court as her husband was jailed for eight months, less 21 days spent on remand, and banned from the Britannia for two years.
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by Kelly, Plymouth
Sunday, July 25 2010, 4:13PM
“Fiona was at one point engaged to my father and I can honestly say that she WAS a nice person only god knows where this behaviour has come from....as for "oxygen thieves" every person deserves to live... I cannot comment about her activities now as she was part of my fathers life about 7 years ago.”
by Vinnie Garstroke, Plymouth
Sunday, July 25 2010, 1:58PM
“concerned
Have you been to Coventry? It's dreadful.
I agree they should be punished but that's a step too far.”
by Vinnie Garstroke, Plymouth
Sunday, July 25 2010, 1:55PM
“concerned
Have you been to Coventry? It's dreadful.
I agree they should be punished but that's a step too far.”
by Dave, Devonport
Sunday, July 25 2010, 12:38PM
“So that's 3 serious assaults and she ends up with a suspended sentence and £250? Great,few people I really don't like,might as well spend the afternoon thumping them,excellent value for money.
What the courts and the Government don't seem to realise is that many people see the law just not working so they'll start to take it into their own hands.
And why is the Husband receiving a custodial sentence,even if it is insufficient for such a cowardly bit of thuggery,while his seemingly out of control wife gets off,seems to me she's the worse of the two.”
by concerned plymouth, plymouth
Sunday, July 25 2010, 9:41AM
“just a couple of sick bullies, i hope they are sent to coventry,
i bet they were bullies as little children as well . just a couple of slugs, they will be rewarded one day , be assured .what goes round comes round they will get thier cumuppance if not in this life the next !!!”
by Concerned Citizen *101*, Plymouth
Sunday, July 25 2010, 8:56AM
“People like this should be put in prison for a very long time and forced to do hard labour! they do nothing but crap on their own doorstep, neighbours and whoever else is unfortunate enough to cross their path! they are a menace and should not be allowed to live freely in society. I am so sick of hearing hardluck stories about people like this, they could change thier lives if they really wanted to, but they don't. Just stop behaving like scumbags and vicious animals, its not bloody rocket science is it?? the children of scum like this don't stand a chance either unless they can go and live with foster parents. As for the poor woman who 'looked at her husband' i'm in agreement with all the other comments she was probably just shocked at the sight she saw in front of her, i mean, seriously, being beaten up for LOOKING at the man?? what the hell is wrong with these people?? not two brain cells between the pair of them because of obliteration through alcohol abuse - amongst other things!!”
by Mick, Barbican
Sunday, July 25 2010, 3:52AM
“She looks like Peter Wyngarde in drag”
by Rich, Plym
Sunday, July 25 2010, 2:02AM
“If my scum/chav fueled power station had been built then these two could've been lighting my front room by now instead of leeching of the rest of us. Disgusting, vile specimens. I get angry just knowing people like this not only exist but get taken care of so very well while honest people get little or no support and face big fines and sentences for a lesser offences. Argh.”
by C, Plymouth
Saturday, July 24 2010, 7:47PM
“These low-life shouldn't be allowed to live amongst decent people”
by Rick O'Shay, zog
Saturday, July 24 2010, 3:40PM
“Geoff
Have you read the report properly? You wouldn't stand a chance against that woman, she's MEAN.
I say sign her up and send her off to fight the Taliban, whatever the outcome it's a win-win for the taxpayer.
As for Jumbo, he could be floated out to sea and used for harpoon practice, that would save a few whales.”