COWARDLY THUG JAILED FOR ATTACKING PENSIONER IN RAMSGATE HOME
A violent attack occurred when a man armed with a knuckle-duster assaulted an elderly individual inside his own residence.Joseph Turner, 30 years old, disturbed Sidney Elliott by ringing all the buzzer buttons in his apartment block in Ramsgate before physically assaulting him.
The assault resulted in a broken nose and two broken ribs.
Turner was sentenced to nearly three years in prison for unlawful wounding and causing actual bodily harm at Canterbury Crown Court.
The judge acknowledged that Turner, a former bus driver, struggled with issues related to alcohol, drugs, and violence.
The court was informed that Turner, who has two children, was drinking heavily with Terry Gummer in March 2019; during this time, his mood changed negatively.
After Mr Gummer left early, Turner remained at his friend's flat, unable to access the communal entrance.
He then rang every doorbell until Sidney Elliott, in his seventies and living closest to the door, responded.
Mr Elliott later commented, "I still have nightmares from that night..." Judge Rupert Lowe explained that Mr Elliott opened the communal door and made a comment about the late-night disturbance, which angered Turner.
The judge said, “You took against that, you didn’t like being spoken to like that by an elderly man.
You headbutted him without warning, knocking him to the floor and when he is on the floor defenceless you started kicking him and he crawled to his front door." It was revealed that Mr Elliott managed to find a knuckle-duster inside his flat as Turner followed him.
Seeing the weapon, Turner remarked, “oh that’s handy,” before arming himself and attacking Mr Elliott.
Gummer, noticing the blood and injured man, challenged Turner.
The assailant and the victim then went outside, where Turner struck Mr Elliott in the face with the knuckle-duster, causing further injuries.
The assault left Mr Elliott with a broken nose, two broken ribs, and head and body cuts.
Mr.
Gummer sustained a facial cut that required surgical glue.
Both men remain psychologically affected by the events.
Mr Elliott said he continues to experience an eye injury and a displaced jaw, noting, “Since that night it has made me act and feel much different.” Gummer said he still has nightmares and a scar on his jaw, which he keeps hidden behind a beard, even in hot weather.
Turner denied the charges, claiming his victims were the aggressors.
Though convicted of unlawful wounding and actual bodily harm, he was cleared of more serious charges involving intent to wound.
His lawyer, Charles Burton, stated Turner feels remorseful, has addressed his substance abuse problems, and is now employed as a lighting engineer.
Burton also mentioned that Turner has struggled with mental health issues and wishes to make amends for his actions.
