A street attack on a father and son ensued after a man who was accused of urinating on a van called for back up when he was told to clean it up.
Harry Woolliston urinated on a van on a residential street but was caught in the act by the homeowner and was told to clean it up on the night of June 14, last year. But rather than clean up the mess he made, Woolliston instead called for back up, and two cars soon arrived on the street, with Woolliston's friend, Jonathon Towler getting out. The duo, assisted by a woman, then carried out an attack on the man and his son.
Woolliston, 25, of Strathmore Crescent, Burnopfield, and Towler, 27, of Keswick Road, Stanley, appeared at Durham Crown Court to be jointly sentenced for affray. They had both pleaded guilty to the charge at a previous hearing.
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Chris Wood, prosecuting, said at 11.30pm on July 14 last year, a man woke up to the sound of shutting doors outside of his property in Annfield Plain, Stanley. He said: "There was some concern that his van was being broken into at the time. He then saw his father go outside and heard his father ask a male if he had been urinating on the van.
"It's understood CCTV from the property would show Woolliston urinating on the van and the father approached him and told him to go and get some water and clean it up."
He added: "The defendant denied urinating on the van and made a call. Minutes later two cars arrived, the vehicles approached in an aggressive manner.
"One of the vehicles was an Audi, which Towler exited. Woolliston stood behind Towler, the larger of the two."
It was then that Woolliston "pulled up his sleeves", with the man believing he was "looking for a fight", Towler then approached him before the man's son interjected after fearing for his safety. Towler then punched the son in the face, who responded in "self-defence", but Towler continued to punch him several times.
Dr Wood said at that moment, the Audi, being driven by a woman, collided with the back of the son's leg, knocking him over, Towler then continued to hit him whilst he was on the ground. The Audi again drove at the son, knocking him over the bonnet before driving off. The attack continued with the father being hit from behind by Towler before the police were called.
In a victim impact statement, the son said the violence dished out that evening was "unexpected, shocking and extreme". He said he found the incident "traumatic" and could not walk properly for six weeks after being hit by the car and repeatedly punched.
In the father's statement, he said he no longer feels safe in his own home and is "anxious and nervous". He added he still suffers from headaches after being "sucker-punched" by Towler.
The court heard Woolliston had 11 previous convictions for 25 offences, including for criminal damage. Towler, who was "brought in to be the muscle", had 12 previous convictions for 16 offences, including arson, and received a "significant custodial sentence" of nine years in October this year for drugs offences. He appeared at the court via link from HMP Holme House.
In mitigation, the court heard Woolliston's involvement in the affray was to a "lesser degree" and had "turned his life around" since the incident. Towler, a dad-of-two, was said to be "under the influence" at the time of the violence, but had since "sorted out" his drink and drug problems.
Sentencing the pair, Judge James Adkin handed Woolliston a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for two years, he must also carry out 180 hours unpaid work and 30 rehabilitation days. Towler was given 11 months prison, which will be served consecutively to his current prison sentence.
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