10 year sentence for ‘extreme violence’ in Westward Ho!
The defendant had never met or been to the assisted living complex before
A man's starting a 10 year jail term for injuring three strangers in what a judge today called an 'extreme incident of violence' in Westward Ho! last Summer.
Drew Davey, 26, of Greenbank Road, Barnstaple, had never met the three people at the Lulworth assisted living residence - somewhere he'd never been before. Exeter Crown Court heard he lashed out in 'an extraordinary fashion' after being found drunkenly asleep in a shed.
Police body-worn camera footage showed, on the officer's arrival, two 'highly vulnerable' people lying on a kitchen floor covered in blood who had no idea who the attacker was. Another person outside also revealed they had no clue as to the defendant's identity - when they greeted the officer and showed them inside at around 1am on Wednesday August 16.
Three people were later taken to hospital, two of the residents with serious injuries and a lesser injured staff member - who the judge said 'deserves to be commended' for his actions.
Victim impact statements - from two of the injured men's mothers - were today highlighted to the court. One mother said her son was 'not able to live his life as he had done previously' after previously making progress with underlying health challenges and being set back - adding that he was 'attacked in his home where he felt safe'.
Another mother revealed her son had no memory of the attack, but was left with restricted mobility and other health problems. The court heard injuries were sustained by repeated blows with a broom handle.
The court heard Davey had been drinking earlier in the evening, following an argument with his now ex partner, with witness reports of him shouting 'nonsense' and clearly drunk at 9.20pm.
Earlier in the day there had been a report of shoplifting and police were called to Tesco after suggestions of the defendant acting aggressively at the store later that day.
Just before midnight, another witness called police to raise concerns about the defendant who was described as 'distressed but calm' with police unable to find him.
At 1am noises were heard at the assisted living residence by a staff member who came to investigate and saw the defendant carrying out the attack - repeatedly shouting 'do you know who I am' and warning of reprise attacks.
Davey was originally charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm - but later pleaded guilty to two charges of GBH with intent and one of ABH.
In mitigation the court was told Davey had a 'deep sense of remorse’ and was 'horrified and appalled' by his own actions in later police interviews. The actions were described as 'out of character' and the judge was told he’d suffered a previous unprovoked attack which had left an impact on him.
The court Davey had never been to the assisted living place before or knew anything about the past history of those he attacked. It's thought - while he cannot remember exactly what he was doing - Davey was woken up after being found asleep in a shed and 'behaved in an extraordinary fashion'.
His Honour Judge Stephen Climie called the actions 'extreme', adding it was 'almost incomprehensible what was going on in your mind' during the 'sustained and unprovoked attack on two vulnerable strangers'.
He reflected the defendant's 'immediate reaction was to try to avoid any responsibility' and had even initially suggested the victims attacked each other - but later 'demonstrated a significant amount of remorse'.
Alongside the total 10 year sentence, Davey will spend three years on licence.