Jewson car park assault pair escape jail

Two men who attacked a Jewson’s customer in the car park of the builders merchant’s Yeovil branch have been spared jail.
Two men – David John Cullen, 23 of Meadow Road, Yeovil and Malvin Price, 34, of Chilton Cantelo, appeared in the dock together at Taunton Crown Court after admitting charges of actual bodily harm.

Daniel Hodges, was left with blood pouring down his face, bruising and a fractured nose when he was attacked by Cullen and Price. The court heard that Hodges was formerly in a relationship with Cullen’s girlfriend.

Hodges had been shopping at Jewson in Yeovil on June 25 last year, but when he returned to his car, it had been boxed in by two other vehicles.

Price grabbed the victim by the throat, squeezing it until he started to choke and punched him twice in the face, the court heard. The attack only stopped when the Jewson’s manager came to investigate the commotion.

Cullen was arrested at the scene and Price arrested later that day. They both pleaded guilty to the charges – and Cullen admitted a further charge of driving without a license.

The court heard Cullen had a history of assault dating back to 2002, and Price had a history of robbery, assault and battery.

Defending Price, Philip Mason told the court: “My client has a troubled background and mental health problems, and above anything he wants to avoid going to prison.”

Recorder Frank Abbott sentenced Price to a six month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered him to pay £500 compensation to the victim. Cullen was given a 12 month community order, and told he must carry out 80 hours unpaid work, and was given three penalty points on his driving license.

The pair were also issued with a restraining order preventing them from contacting Hodges for the next five years.