Victim's ribs broken when brothers 'went to wrong address’ near Shrewsbury

The victim was repeatedly punched and knocked to the ground in the late night attack in July last year. When his friend tried to intervene she was also punched.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court, Andrew Nutting, 28, and his 25-year-old brother Thomas, were both given suspended jail sentences.

Judge Anthony Lowe said both men had consumed a ‘ridiculous amount’ of alcohol and were involved in a sustained assault. He said it was an unwarranted attack leaving the victims with physical and mental scars.

Andrew Nutting was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was made subject to a three-month monitored curfew.

Thomas Nutting was given a 10-month sentence, also suspended for two years, and he must complete 150 hours unpaid work.

Judge Lowe ordered both men to pay compensation – £1,500 to the initial victim and £500 to his female friend – and must each pay £350 towards the court costs.

The two defendants, both of Callow Crescent, Minsterley, had admitted two charges of assault causing actual bodily harm.

The court heard that the defendants turned up uninvited at the victim’s flat in Castle Meadow, Pontesbury, at around 11.30pm on July 5 last year. Both were drunk and asking for a person who did not live at the address.

Mr David Bennett, prosecuting, said victim’s pet dog ran out and when he went to get it one of the defendants picked it up it and threw it.

At that point the two men started to punch the victim. The attackers were identified by the victims through Facebook inquiries and both were later formally identified as the attackers.

Mr Paul Smith, for Andrew Nutting, said that the two men had gone to ‘the wrong address’ and his client accepted being involved in ‘loutish behaviour’ and apologised to the victims.

Miss Debra White, for Thomas Nutting, said that her client had ‘joined in’ and he had alcohol issues and was remorseful.