MAN JAILED FOR 'SPECTACULARLY MEAN-SPIRITED, BULLYING BEHAVIOUR'
A 70-year-old woman was assaulted, sprayed with paint, and knocked to the ground by her granddaughter’s boyfriend, Martin John Bell, during an early morning dispute outside her home in Seaham.The incident occurred at around 4:20 am when Bell’s loud argument with his girlfriend disturbed the grandmother, who went outside to remonstrate with him as he was placing items, including a TV, into his car.
Prosecutor Shaun Dryden stated that Bell grabbed her tightly around the wrist and sprayed her face and arms with paint.
The grandmother, shocked, tried to hold onto the car to steady herself, but Bell got into the BMW and reversed it, knocking her to the ground.
He then drove away, leaving her with a bruised wrist and soft tissue damage to her right hip, which required hospital treatment.
During his interview, Bell denied any assault, claiming that his girlfriend came towards him with spray paint, which he took from her, causing it to spray in all directions.
He also stated he was just trying to leave and did not think he hit his grandmother with the car.
Bell, aged 25, of Parkside Crescent, Seaham, had previously been convicted of 16 offenses, including violence and animal cruelty.
His lawyer indicated that Bell has recently found a job and acknowledged his guilt in a probation report.
Judge Jonathan Carroll sentenced Bell to 17 months in prison, banned him from driving for 20 months and two weeks, and described the incident as "spectacularly mean-spirited bullying of an elderly lady," noting that it must have been terrifying for her.
The judge added, “It beggars belief that you could walk free after knocking her down in that way.”
