Three commended after man jailed for GBH in Northampton
37-year-old Joel France has been jailed for six-and-half-years
A crown court Judge has commended three members of the public after they helped to bring a violent man to justice.
37-year-old Joel France, who's from Penrhyn Road in Northampton, has been jailed for six-and-half-years after pleading guilty to GBH with intent following a serious assault in the town.
Last November he assaulted a man, leaving him with facial fractures, a broken wrist and suspect bleed on his brain.
A Northamptonshire police spokesperson said, "Circuit Judge Rupert Mayo awarded the witnesses a discretionary monetary award on behalf of the Northamptonshire High Sheriff for their pivotal role in the conviction of 37-year-old Joel France.
"Last month (October 15), France was sentenced at the county’s crown court to 72 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to Section 18 – grievous bodily harm with intent following a serious assault in Northampton.
"At about 11.30pm on November 26 last year, France was witnessed inflicting a sustained and vicious assault on the man in the town’s Exeter Place, which prompted several members of the public to call 999.
"When Northamptonshire Police attended the scene, they found the victim, a man in his 40s, with significant injuries. He was taken to hospital where it was confirmed that he had facial fractures, a broken wrist and suspect bleed on his brain.
"France was arrested and subsequently charged on suspicion of attempted murder. He denied this offence, but before he was due to stand trial at crown court on May 7 this year, he admitted the lesser offence of GBH which was accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service.
"In addition to the six-year prison sentence, France of Penrhyn Road, Northampton, was also ordered to pay £228 surcharge in full upon his release."