Teens attacked man who hid in bush after Norwich affray

The lone victim had been walking along St Augustines Street, towards Aylsham Road, in Norwich when Jacob Hamblyn, 19, Brandon Hand, 19, and Ciaran Harvey, 18 approached him.

St Augustines Street, Norwich (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)

Norwich Crown Court heard they asked the victim for a cigarette prompting him to start rummaging through his bag as he was concerned about what might happen.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Ian James, prosecuting, said ultimately the victim handed over his bag to see if they wanted anything which they could take themselves but one of them started swearing at him, demanding he hand over his cigarettes.

The defendants asked him "where are you hiding the cigarettes" and then "approached him aggressively".

Mr James said the group then began "swinging their fists towards him" and started punching him, aiming blows towards his face.

St Augustines Street, Norwich (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)The victim tried to distance himself from the group but "all three males pursued him" and started punching him again.

But Mr James said he was able to get away again and "hid in a bush in a local churchyard" and stayed there until the group left.

The victim hid in a bush in a churchyard in the St Augustines Street area (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)The defendants were unable to find the man and left but were arrested nearby shortly afterwards after the incident was reported to police.

Mr James said the victim found his bag and its contents all over the pavement.

He suffered bruising and swelling to the left side of his face, including his cheek and ear.

The incident has also left the victim wary about going out on his own.

Hamblyn, formerly of Winalls Yard, Norwich, Hand, of Aylsham Road, Norwich and Harvey, of George Pope Road, Norwich, appeared in court for sentence on Wednesday having admitted affray on July 5 2022.

Jacob Hambly (top left), Brandon Hand (right) and Ciaran Harvey (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Recorder Nicola Fitches said there had been "threatening of an individual by a group and sustained violence" in the incident.

Hand, who was 18 at the time of the affray, was sentenced to 20 weeks custody suspended for 12 months and given 15 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR).

Harvey, who was 17 at the time, was told his young age was taken into account, was sentenced to eight months in custody which was suspended for 18 months.

He was also ordered to undertake 15 days RAR and a 12-month mental health treatment requirement.

Hamblyn, who was 18 at the time of the affray, was given 31 weeks custody which was suspended for 18 months as well as 15 days RAR.

John Morgans, mitigating for Hand, said immaturity was "undoubtedly a factor" in the offending.

He said the defendant had been in "turmoil" in the period of his life when the offence happened.

Duncan O'Donnell, for Harvey, said he had entered guilty pleas and was only 17 at the time of the offence, meaning he was a youth.

He said the defendant was a "young man with severe problems and his offending was a result of it".

Mr O'Donnell said despite his Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and special educational needs, he was now embarking on adulthood.

Oliver Haswell, for Hamblyn, said his client has "entirely changed his outlook" from the time he committed the affray.

He said he had been "in the wrong crowd", went through a period of homelessness and got into drugs but has since "totally re-engaged with the family" and is now "the son they had lost".

Mr Haswell said he "recognised where he went wrong and has done his level best to put that right".