A thug who slammed a paving slab onto a rough sleeper's head in Devon was found hiding in his mum's attic in Manchester. Levi Hackett, from Newton Heath, left Benjamin Martin with a fractured skull outside a shop in Totnes before jogging from the scene.
The 23-year-old was caught on CCTV raising a 12inch block above his head before smashing it over the head of his victim. Mr Martin, who was sat on the ground outside the Happy Apple food store, did not see Hackett approaching before the sickening attack.
Hackett said he had been motivated by revenge after his girlfriend's flat was ransacked, Devon Live reports. Although Hackett did not know his victim, he believed he had once dated his partner.
Mr Martin was told by doctors that the impact had been like 'somebody cracking a coconut'. At Exeter Crown Court, the judge said the attack could have killed Mr Martin and was quite clearly motivated by revenge and pre-planned.
The assault happened during the afternoon of July 3 last year. Earlier in the day, Mr Hackett had visited his partner at Derriford Hospital, and when he returned to her flat in Kingsbridge found it had been turned upside down and items taken.
Prosecutor Ed Bailey said this may have been a 'potential motivation' for what happened later in the day even though there is no evidence Mr Martin was involved. The court was played CCTV of Hackett driving a van to Totnes and parking before picking up a paving slab left by builders and walking towards the Happy Apple.
The footage showed him approach while wearing a Covid mask and, without warning, brining it down from above his head. Witnesses reported hearing a 'violent bang' that 'sounded like a small car crash'.
Mr Martin writhed in pain on the ground. He later said he woke in immense pain unsure what had happened.
He could see people around him. They sounded 'as if they were on the radio', he said. There was blood running down his face and he was vomiting violently.
Mr Bailey said there was no ambulance available so a PCSO accompanied him to hospital in the back of a car. At hospital he was treated for bleeding between the brain and skull and a fracture.
He said in a victim statement he still suffers the physical and psychological effect of the assault. He is sensitive to light, has nerve, taste and smell issues, gets his words muddled and probably has PTSD as well as other conditions.
"I've never met him nor did I know him so I question why he has done this to me," said Mr Martin. The court was told Hackett has previous convictions for violence, but he has shown clear remorse for his actions.
Judge David Evans said Hackett was a powerfully built man who had clearly planned his actions. He pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Hacket was jailed for four years. The defendant, of Wellpark Walk, Newton Heath, must serve two thirds of his sentence before being released.
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