Dad and son jailed after 'cowardly' machete attack on Sainsbury's shopper

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Dad and son jailed after
Dad and son jailed after 'cowardly' machete attack on Sainsbury's shopper

A father and son duo in Surrey have been jailed after launching a "cowardly" attack on a shopper inside Sainsbury's with a machete in an "unproved and prolonged" attack.

Alfred Chambers, 45, and Alfie Chambers, 23, of Molesey Close, Cobham will be behind bars for four and a half years for attacking a man they’d never met with a machete and a baseball bat after getting into an argument in the Sainsburys Local store in Cobham in October 2023.

Both men pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon. Additionally, Alfred also pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage reports SurreyLive. During their hearing, the court heard how Alfie Chambers went to Sainsbury's on Cobhma High Street at 10.40pm on Friday 27th October 2023. He became involved in a verbal argument with another man who he didn't know and had never met before.

The argument intensified and the staff at the Sainsbury's Local store had to intervene. Both men left the store, however, Alfie went to his car to get a baseball bat which he used to threaten the victim with. The victim managed to get away from Alfie and the baseball bat, but he had to return to the store after realising he had left his wallet in the store. In a statement from Surrey Police, they said: "Nothing could have prepared him for what happened next."

The second time around as the victim was about to leave the store and get into his vehicle, Alfie pulled up alongside his car and was accompanied by his father Alfred. This time, Alfie was armed with a large machete and his father was armed with a metal baseball bat which he used to smash the windows of the victim's car.

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Dad and son jailed after 'cowardly' machete attack on Sainsbury's shopperAlfred Chambers pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm and being in possession of an offensive weapon, he also pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage (HNP Newsdesk/Hyde News & Pictures Ltd)
Dad and son jailed after 'cowardly' machete attack on Sainsbury's shopperAlfie Chambers pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm and being in possession of an offensive weapon (HNP Newsdesk/Hyde News & Pictures Ltd)

Surrey Police said: "The victim escaped from his van and was chased by both men who then launched an unprovoked and prolonged attack on him, repeatedly striking him with their weapons with such force that he fell to the floor on several occasions." During the attack, the victim managed to make his way back to the Sainsbury's store where the attack didn't stop. The attack continued while he was on the floor trying to protect himself.

Eventually, both men, Alfie and Alfred fled the scene and staff from the Sainsbury's store helped the victim with first aid until Police officers and medical help arrived from South East Coast Ambulance (SECAMB). Both men were identified within 24 hours of the investigation however with efforts to arrest them intensified both men fled to Devon.

However, with the assistance of Devon and Cornwall Police, the pair handed themselves into Staines Police Station on 6 November 2023. They were both interviewed, charged and remanded into custody. Both men pleaded guilty at Guilford Crown Court on Wednesday 13 December 2023 and were remanded into custody.

Detective Constable Daniel Bell, who investigated the case labelled it as "incredibly violent" and said the father and son's response to the incident was "disproportionate and it was fortunate that the victim's injuries were not more serious." He added that the victim's injuries will have a "lasting impact on him in the future."

During the summing sentencing, Recorder Gallagher said that a fatality "could easily have occurred" and that he was not surprised that the victim told the police he could have died when giving a statement. He also added that the attack involved "an element of planning and organisation" whilst being entirely unprovoked, he described it as "cowardly."

Mariam Khan

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