Man jailed after stamping on victim's head in 'prolonged attack' over phone charger in Cheltenham

A man who stamped on the head of a "helpless" victim during a "prolonged attack" over a lost phone charger, has been jailed.

On Tuesday 10 December, Jordan Coxhead, 24, and his accomplice Andrew Brazington, 54, were sentenced to a combined total of more than seven years in prison following the "terrifying and degrading" attack which happened in July this year.

Gloucester Crown Court heard how Coxhead and Brazington, who knew the victim, tried to break into his home in Cheltenham, believing he had a phone charger Coxhead wanted.

They then used a knife to prise open a window and threatened to stab the victim if he did not come out of his room.

The man, who had previously had a stroke and was wearing a leg brace at the time of the attack, left his room out of fear and went into the garden. Coxhead then subjected him to a prolonged attack which lasted several hours.

Brazington, 54, was also involved in the assault. He was present throughout and admitted a lesser role of punching the victim once, the court heard.

Coxhead also filmed parts of the attack - sending it to others and boasting about what he was doing in a group chat.

Sentencing the pair at Gloucester Crown Court, Judge Rupert Lowe KC acknowledged that the attack could have killed the victim.

He said: "You carried out a cold blooded, premeditated and prolonged assault on a completely innocent man.

"Stamping on his head, kicking him in the face and punching him repeatedly, mostly in the face, but some of those blows and kicks and punches also landed on his torso. He was completely helpless against this onslaught of violence."

Brazington accepted that he was present throughout and had punched the victim once. He later attempted to discourage Coxhead from continuing with the violence.

Describing what was heard in the video clips Coxhead filmed, Judge Rupert Lowe said: "The overall tone of it is that you are putting him in enormous fear with periodic onslaughts of vicious violence against which he is completely helpless."

After the assault ended, the victim was able to flag down a member of the public to get help and was taken to hospital.

He suffered facial injuries, including to his eye socket with blurred vision, bruising, wheezing when breathing and a scan later revealed a bleed on his brain.

He still requires ongoing medical attention.

In a statement from the victim, which was read in court, he said: "Not only was the attack by Jordan and Andy prolonged and terrifying, it was degrading and humiliating due to the taunts and comments they were making at the time.

"Nobody helped me and they prevented me calling for help, I honestly thought I was going to die.

"The most serious impact has been to my mental health which affects my daily life. The attack happened at my home, where I thought I was safe, and due to this, I remain continuously anxious and on edge."

The court heard that both Coxhead and Brazington had traumatic childhoods which contributed to their behaviour as adults.

Judge Lowe deemed Coxhead a 'dangerous offender' who didn't know how to deal with conflict. He was sentenced to five years and three months in prison, with an extension period of three years extra on licence.

Brazington was sentenced to two years in prison, which he must serve at least half of. Both of them were given a 15-year restraining order against the victim.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Smith, said: "Coxhead began the attack by saying 'a lesson not learnt in blood is not a lesson learnt'.

"The defendants then attacked the vulnerable man over multiple hours, causing serious injuries, while continuing to taunt and degrade him.

"By filming parts of the attack, the defendants gave themselves no option but to admit their guilt. The sentences for both defendants demonstrates that anyone partaking in crime will be punished."