Racist Bristol thugs jailed for attacks on shopkeepers
Three racist thugs have today been jailed for a series of terrifying attacks on Bristol shopkeepers.
Justin Lovedale, 17, his twin brother Luke, and Nicholas Gardener, also 17, were each jailed for 18 months.
At a previous hearing Bristol Magistrates Court heard how the three teenagers brutally beat four Asian shopkeepers in Bedminster and screamed racist abuse at them.
All three had their identity protected by a court order when they first appeared at Bristol Magistrates Court.
But the Evening Post fought to have the ban lifted and won the right to name, shame and picture the trio of racist scum.
During a night of violence in Bedminster on June 6 this year, the three teenagers attacked shopkeepers at two different shops.
In the short space of an hour, the two brothers – who were 16 at the time – punched and kicked a member of staff in Bargain Booze in West Street, before Gardener joined them in an unprovoked attack on two shopkeepers at Costcutter in North Street.
On each occasion they shouted horrific racist abuse at their victims.
Just two months before, on April 5, Gardener, who has 19 previous convictions, carried out a similar attack at the same Costcutter shop.
Following a three-day trial, District Judge David Parsons found all three defendants guilty of racially aggravated common assault in both shops.
He agreed to lift the order banning their identification, saying the protection of the community outweighed the teenagers' interests.
Today at Bristol Crown Court Judge Parsons said: "The cases against each of you were overwhelming.
"Yours was a cowardly attack where as a group you overwhelmed your victims, targeting them on the basis of their ethnicity.
"The aggravating factors include the punching, the sustained element, the kicking, it being a group action and your history of offending."
Judge Parsons said the attacks had been “degrading and humbling” to the victims, all of whom suffered a “life-changing impact” because of the three thugs’ actions.
He added: "These factors alone make your offending severe enough for custody, but that is not all.
"You selected your victims for their membership of an ethnic group, and treated them with hatred, hostility and violence.
"I have gained an unique insight into your character. You have laughed and yawned and behaved badly.
"When you watched the CCTV you showed no remorse or shame, and you revelled in and enjoyed revisiting your ugly and violent crimes."
18 Comments
View all
by Steph, Bristol
Sunday, November 22 2009, 3:39AM
“Funny that no-one can hear what was said. I'd hardly call it horrific, they are both very skinny and barely even touched them. Get a life.”
by Adam, Bedminster
Wednesday, November 11 2009, 11:16PM
“I feel very sorry for the shop keepers involved. Having watched the horrific CCTV footage I'm suprised the judge didn't give a heavier sentence, but hey-ho this is good old England where the scumbags get away with it or a slap on the wrist will do. I live very close to the Bargain Booze on West St and every Friday and Saturday night it's like Beirut round here with the hoodies. Message to the local shops, PLEASE don't sell these kids booze, It just makes things worse. I hope these SCUM get the kicking they so rightly deserve either in prison or when they get out. Sadly I think it's the only justice they might take on board.”
by Cheryl, Bristol
Wednesday, November 11 2009, 11:02PM
“These youths are a danger in our communities, violence and racial abuse is totally unacceptable and must be stamped out. I reckon these thugs should be EDUCATED whilst doing time ¿ Including the Jane Elliott¿s ¿Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes" exercise with someone like Anne Robinson taking it... In fact this exercise ought to be made part of the school curriculum.”
by Annoyed, Bristol
Wednesday, November 11 2009, 8:57PM
“Maybe Esme would welcome a "visit" from these 3 lovely BOYS when they get out, seeing as though she seems to think that everyone is being so harsh on them........poor loves eh!! NOT.......Hope they rot in hell”
by Phil, Bristle
Wednesday, November 11 2009, 8:34PM
“Too lenient, they'll wear their convictions as a badge of honour when they are freed to re-offend.
The only small consolation is that the other prisoners will have little patience for known racists and possibly might make their incarceration a little harder.”
by MikeMSN, Midsomer Norton
Wednesday, November 11 2009, 7:39PM
“It is reported that one of the defendants swore at the judge when being sentenced. If this behaviour is tolerated by a judge in his own court, what hope is there for teachers and police who are disrespected? It was the duty of the judge to uphold the dignity of his court by increasing this youth's sentence for his contempt of court. By ignoring it, he became part of the problem, when his job is to be part of the solution.”
by Dan, Bristol
Wednesday, November 11 2009, 4:51PM
“Hold on, "Jail for Bristol man who flew into jealous rage over a kiss" who gets 2.5 years and yet these feral scum get 18 months, go figure...”
by gas65, whitchurch
Wednesday, November 11 2009, 4:35PM
“Three onto 1,how hard they must be.Total SCUM,these total losers are a small minority of todays Britain,its todays do gooders who are still trying to protect and help this type of low life.Theyre parents should also be held responsible for bringing up vermin teenagers”
by Dan, Bristol
Wednesday, November 11 2009, 4:22PM
“Just another example of the feral scum that walk our streets these days; no proper parenting, no job, no respect, no life, no morals, need I go on. As for the UK judicial system, what a joke, they'll be out in a year if that and be out causing a menace as before; lock them up for good and throw away the key. Why should these guys get humanely treated after the way they treated their victims. Crazy...”
by The Hedgehog, Horfield
Wednesday, November 11 2009, 4:17PM
“I suspect that people use the word 'scum' because more suitable epithets are filtered out by the moderation mechanism.
The sentences are, of course, inadequate, but that's the way it is now. If they'd have put their rubbish in the wrong bins, no doubt the full force of the Law would have come down on them.”