Brothers spared custody after metal baseball bat attack

Lee Bradley suffered a badly bruised eye when he was set upon while walking through Wellington after a night out with his girlfriend last October.

Yesterday 20-year-old Mohsin Salim, 20, of Crescent Road, Hadley, was given 11 months' detention at a youth offenders institute, suspended for 18 months.

He was also ordered by Shrewsbury Crown Court to complete 100 hours' unpaid work and pay £1,500 compensation to Mr Bradley.

He had admitted at an earlier hearing assault occasioning actual bodily harm and the possession of an offensive weapon.

Muhammad Salim, 17, of Crescent Road, admitted the assault at an earlier hearing.

He was given a 12 month supervision order a three month electronic night time curfew and ordered to carry out 10 days of community reparation and go to a weekened attendance centre.

Mr Recorder Adrian Jack said it had been an entirely unprovoked attack on a complete stranger which had caused injuries that could still be seen a month later.

Mr Lee Egan, prosecuting, said Mr Bradley had been walking walking down Park Street with his girlfriend on the evening of October 19 when they noticed three people in a Corsa staring at them.

Moshim Salim got out the the car went to the boot and took out a baseball bat. He was joined by the two others from the car and all three attacked Mr Bradley.

He managed to grab the bat to prevent it being used but fell to the ground where he was kicked to the head and torso, Mr Egan said.

The three men only left when Mr Bradley's girlfriend began to take photos of them on her mobile phone.

The brothers' neighbour, Mrs Sheila Evans, 82, gave a character reference, telling the court they were 'good boys' who would do anything for her.

Mr Andrew Baker for Mohsin, said: "Heaven only knows why this assault took place. He has brought shame on his family and his parents and ashamed of their sons' behaviour. It was a nasty incident but it only lasted a few seconds and there were no permanent injuries."

Miss Elizabeth Power for Muhammad, said her client had a bright future ahead of him which would be ruined if he was given a custodial sentence.

Mr Recorder Jack said he believed Muhammad had been under the influence of his older brother.