Court told of trio's catalogue of violent crime

THREE men admitted a clutch of violent crimes in Bristol, from an attack on a custody officer to muggings in a park.

David Ashton, Christopher Knight and Thomas Jefferson are being sentenced together for the offences spanning from February to July.

Ashton, 24, of Nelson Parade, Bedminster, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, robbery, possessing a blade, a further robbery and attempted robbery.

Knight, 18, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm, robbery and attempted robbery.

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013

Jefferson, 21, of Pawlett Road, Bristol, pleaded guilty to robbery, common assault, resisting a police officer and burglary.

Mark Hollier, prosecuting, took Bristol Crown Court through the offences in chronological order.

He said in February, Knight used a prison issue plastic spoon to inflict a wound on Sean Green, a senior care manager at Pucklechurch young offender institute.

Mr Hollier told the court Ashton had been drinking with Sean Courtney at the Ropewalk pub in Bedminster when he inflicted a single blow on him which fractured his jaw.

The court heard in May, Ashton and Jefferson were involved in a knifepoint robbery on Adam Morgan, in the gents' lavatory at the Blue Mountain night club in Stokes Croft.

While Ashton pulled out a knife, Jefferson searched Mr Morgan and he handed over £22.

"Ashton then punched Mr Morgan to the head," Mr Hollier said.

The court was told a drunken Jefferson spoke to new father Peter Hooson as he pushed his baby in a buggy past the Ropewalk pub.

Mr Hollier said: "Jefferson asked Mr Hooson for a fag and a light.

"Mr Hooson refused and tried to manoeuvre the buggy around but the defendant pushed the buggy onto two wheels. Mr Hooson said 'get off my son' and the defendant head-butted him (Mr Hooson) in the face."

Later Jefferson pushed PC Paul Rich as police went to arrest him, the court heard. Jefferson further admitted a burglary of a home in Mendip Road, Bedminster, in which a laptop computer was stolen.

Knight and Ashton both pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and robbery concerning seven young people in Victoria Park, Totterdown.

Mr Hollier said that, in that incident, Ashton removed a chain dog lead from a Staffordshire bull terrier and, after demanding property, struck the chain on a man's hand.

Though the man was punched and kicked he retained his phone and retreated, the court heard.

Other teenagers present handed over their phones, Mr Hollier said.

The robbers were picked out from a video identity parade.

David Miller, defending Ashton, said his client expressed remorse for offences which occurred following the end of a seven-year relationship.

Jonathan Stanniland, defending Jefferson, said his client had been "plunged into ever greater debt" buying steroids, cannabis crack cocaine and heroin.

Mary Cowe, defending Knight, said her client had been diagnosed with ADHD from the age of five, had been excluded from school and had a lack of structure in his life.

Judge Carol Hagen is due to complete the men's sentencing today.