Thug kicked boy, 16, in head after he tried to help crying woman outside Co-op

13 January 2024 , 12:52

1088     0

Joshua Clulow (Image: Stoke Sentinel/BPM Media)

A thug punched and kicked a teenage boy who had bravely intervened to help his friend as she cried outside a Co-op.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Joshua Clulow, 27, turned on the 16-year-old and punched him to the ground before kicking him in the head in the otherwise quiet village of Madeley. Clulow has been jailed for five years for the horrific attack which saw the young victim left unconscious and with two fractures in his jaw.

Prosecutor Alura Bather said the 16-year-old victim saw his friend crying outside the Co-op, in Madeley, at 9.30pm on October 11, 2022. Miss Bather said: "He gave her a hug to comfort her and asked if she wanted to go on a walk. The defendant came out of a house and grabbed at a woman and tried to drag her away. She told him to get off.

"The victim stepped in and tried to get her away. When he was able to bring her back he backed away and said to the defendant he wasn't involved and asked him not to hit him. But he did. He punched him and kicked him and walked away laughing. The woman thought he would attack again. She picked up the victim, who was unconscious, and they walked away."

In a victim statement the teen said his face was swollen and bruised and he was unable to chew. He was in shock and had to eat soft foods such as soup through a straw. He has been left feeling anxious about going out in the dark and was scared the defendant would go to his house.

Teen 'kept as slave, starved and beaten' sues adoptive parents and authorities

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court (Stoke Sentinel/BPM Media)

Clulow, of Morningside, Madeley, denied inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent but was convicted after a trial on October 23. Stuart Muldoon, mitigating, said Clulow was realistic about the sentence he will receive but does not accept he kicked the teenager. He said his client had no previous experience of custody. He suffers panic attacks and he is concerned for his grandmother, who has been diagnosed with cancer.

Mr Muldoon added: "He does ask me to say he did not mean to inflict the injury, while accepting the finding of the jury. If he could turn back the clock he would not have got involved. He plans to serve his time, be released and become a good, positive member of society."

Recorder Julian Taylor said: "You punched a 16-year-old so hard he fell to the floor. It was clear from the evidence that you then kicked him in the face or head area. That is what the jury convicted you of. You lost control.

"You said you were acting in self defence. The jury rejected that and convicted you. I sentence you on the basis there was a punch and a kick, which caused him two fractures to the face. He has subsequently suffered from epilepsy. But it is clear from the evidence that is not related to your attack on him. He now does not feel he can go out at night. I hope this was an isolated incident of violence that you never repeat in your life."

Recorder Taylor made Clulow the subject of a restraining order which prevents him having any contact with his victim for 10 years.

Ann Dixon