Man jailed for attacking sex offender

A man was today jailed for seven years for a vigilante attack on a convicted sex offender in Telford. The victim was slashed with a craft knife in the attack.

John Webb, 41, was jailed after admitting unlawfully and maliciously wounding Steven Simmons with intent. Ricky Briffa, Webb's son, was given a suspended sentence for his role in the attack.

Webb, of West Street, St Georges, slashed at Mr Simmons with a craft knife during an attack at his home on June 17.

Mr Simmons suffered a cut to his nose and a 30cm slash to his back and needed surgery in hospital.

Twenty-year-old Briffa, also of West Street, St Georges, admitted unlawful wounding. He was sentenced to a year in a young offenders' institution, suspended for two years. He was also given a 12-month supervision order and told to complete 200 hours of unpaid community work.

Judge Robin Onions, sentencing, said vigilante attacks were inexcusable and justice was for the courts.

Mrs Janet Pitt-Lewis, prosecuting, said Mr Simmons had been given a suspended prison sentence on June 16 for making indecent photographs of children.

She said the street he lived in appeared in a court report and the next day Webb and Briffa went to the address to track him down.

When Mr Simmons came to his door Webb slashed at him with a craft knife.

Webb said he had been drinking and had been using the knife for gardening.

Mr Andrew Jackson, for Webb, said his client had a number of previous convictions, but had also helped people in the community and in prison.

Mr Makkan Shoker, for Briffa, said his client had stopped his father from further injuring Mr Simmons during the attack.