Two men jailed after prolonged attack on man in Cheltenham

Two men who were involved in a prolonged attack on a man in Cheltenham have been jailed for a total of more than seven years.

Jordan Coxhead, aged 24, took a leading role in the attack and repeatedly assaulted the victim, a man aged in his 40s.

Gloucester Crown Court heard how an assault like this, which Coxhead filmed parts of and sent to others while boasting in a group chat, could have killed the victim.

Andrew Brazington, aged 54, was also involved in the assault which happened in July this year. He was present throughout and admitted a lesser role of punching the victim once.

The court heard how both of the defendants knew the victim. He was vulnerable as he had previously had a stroke and was wearing a leg brace at the time.

During a hearing yesterday (Tuesday 10 December) the court was told how the motive behind the attack was trivial – a missing phone charger.

Coxhead believed the victim had a phone charger which he wanted, and when the victim said he did not it have it, Coxhead did not believe him. The court was told how Coxhead also did not like that the victim did not want to socialise with him that day.

On 25 July this year, Coxhead and Brazington went to the victim's address and tried to break into it. 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 left his room out of fear and went into the garden, and Coxhead then subjected him to a prolonged attack which lasted several hours.

His Honour Judge Rupert Lowe KC 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.

There were three videos which Coxhead captured of the assault on his phone, and he then sent these clips onto others on a group chat.

Judge Lowe described what was heard in the video clips. He 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."

Judge Lowe added that an assault like this could have killed the victim.

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

He was found to have 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.

Although he required no further treatment for the bleed, the man 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.

"Due to the anxiety, I am struggling to sleep and I suffer with flashbacks. When I do manage to fall asleep, the flashbacks wake me up, I wake up suddenly and feel frightened as if I am back in the attack, about to be punched again."

The court heard that both Coxhead, of Grove Street in Cheltenham, and Brazington, of Cheltenham, had traumatic childhoods which contributed to their behaviour as adults. They also had addictions to drugs and alcohol.

The court was told that Brazington did not know why he became involved in the incident and he expressed remorse.

Coxhead pleaded guilty to section 18 wounding with intent and due to the guilty plea he was given a 25 per cent credit. Judge Lowe deemed him to be a dangerous offender as he said that Coxhead did not 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. He was told he must serve two thirds of the sentence before being considered for parole.

Coxhead also admitted to threatening a person with a bladed article, and was sentenced to six months to run concurrently, and he was given no separate penalty for possession of cannabis.

Brazington was given a 20 per cent discount after he pleaded guilty to section 18 wounding with intent and he 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 to give protection to the victim.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Smith from the Criminal Investigation Department, 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."

Jordan Coxhead pictured below

Andrew Brazington pictured below