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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Kieren Williams

Spider-Man prankster who punched Asda worker unconscious in store jailed for six years

A vile prankster who dressed as Spider-Man and punched an Asda worked unconscious has been jailed for over six years.

Josh McDonald was a part of a mob of thugs who were filmed storming into a supermarket in fancy dress.

The 32-year-old kickbox teacher was dressed as the popular superhero before he punched Lauren Scott, a member of staff unconscious in the store in Clapham Junction, London in July 2021.

Meanwhile, George O’Boyle, 30, the leader, was caught on camera dressed as Ali G as he punched the store manager over a dozen times.

The men, both dads of two children, were jailed after they admitted to assault occasioning Actual Bodily Harm, and violent disorder.

McDonald kicked and punched an employee, leaving her with a fractured eye socket (@ca99832245/Twitter)

In the shocking videos, customers can be heard screaming and shouting as the sick pranksters attacked staff and security guards.

McDonald, from Northampton, was jailed for six years and six months.

He will also be monitored for a further three years and six months because he is considered a danger to the public “with problematic attitudes to masculinity”, The Mail Online reported.

Meanwhile, O’Boyle, of Surbiton, south-west London, was jailed for two years and two months.

During proceedings Mark Pettigrew, 39, and Rikki McKenzie, 37, also admitted public order offences involving threats of violence.

Mckenzie received a suspended sentence and, dressed as Matt Lucas’ faux-disabled character Andy, from Little Britain, he had tried to use his wheelchair as a weapon before staff used bags of ice and pulled him to the ground. Pettigrew was given a community sentence.

The group were said to have just entered the store to film some 'fun' for social media (@ca99832245/Twitter)
The moment McDonald punched the store employee (@ca99832245/Twitter)

O’Boyle’s barrister Kerry Moore, told the court in mitigation that the group had aimed to throw a party in the shop aisles but it had escalated after they arrived in a limousine.

Sophie Roberts, a 20-year-old unemployed mum and McDonald’s step-daughter, was dressed as Little Red Riding Hood and is to be sentenced next month for hitting Ms Scott in the face, and for threatening behaviour.

It began when Roberts walked into the store after arriving by limousine.

A short time later, she was joined by the others who rushed into the store, shouting and causing havoc as they fired a confetti cannon.

MyLondon reported Nick Mather, prosecuting, said. “This was entirely self centred, inconsiderate and seemingly oblivious to the distress their actions might cause in a store at this time of night.”

McDonald was jailed for over six years (@ca99832245/Twitter)

O’Boyle organised the stunt for his online followers, and at Kingston Crown Court Ms Moore said that O’Boyle was just planned “some fun for social media”.

Terrifying CCTV footage shows the group ambushing an Asda employee and assaulting him near the vegetable aisle before they begin to fight off more members of staff.

Some members of the public tried to intervene but one was knocked to the ground.

The sick stunt then developed into a brawl as the group tried to force their way into storerooms and into staff offices.

It was then Ms Scott tried to intervene and stop the rampage. She was fighting with Roberts before McDonald strode over and without hesitation kicked and punched her, leaving her with a fractured eye socket.

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