A FATHER-OF-ONE who was caught on camera attacking a rival gang member with a golf club was yesterday jailed for three years.
Dominic Isom’s 21-year-old victim Ashley Smedburg suffered injuries including a collapsed lung and fractured rib after violence flared at Poole railway station.
Isom, 22, from Ivor Road, Poole, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent on October 15 last year.
Prosecuting at Bournemouth Crown Court, Jason Spelman said Kane White, 23, had accompanied Isom to the station with a golf club but had not used it.
Earlier Bournemouth magistrates imposed a 12-month community service order on White, from Russell Gardens, Poole, ordering him to complete 250 hours’ unpaid work and be electronically tagged for three months.
After spotting Mr Smedburg at the station Isom threatened to kill him.
Fearing for his safety, Mr Smedburg went into the booking office but Isom followed.
In a statement, Mr Smedburg said: “He raised the club and I realised he was going to hit me. I covered my head, crouched over and felt a heavy blow to my back.”
Mr Spelman said Isom’s victim had been struck between eight and 10 times before “making a run for it.”
Isom and White fled but were arrested a week later.
The court heard how Isom had 14 convictions for 27 offences, including causing grievous bodily harm, and was in breach of a suspended sentence.
Defending, Jeffrey Norrie-Miller said his client was “under no illusions about the grave nature of his actions,” adding: “These events have caused him to be shocked and appalled at his own conduct. It has been a wake-up call.
“His victim was in a cell next to him in prison and he personally apologised for what he had done. He is genuinely remorseful.”
Sentencing Isom, Judge John Harrow said: “This was very serious criminal violent behaviour. The background seems to be a silly feud which you seem to have got caught up in.
“In full public view you struck your victim repeatedly, causing him quite serious injuries.”
British Transport police investigating officer DC Phil James said the CCTV footage had “proved crucial” in linking Isom to his crime and provided “irrefutable evidence.”
He added: “This was a brutal and gratuitous attack and I hope the sentence sends out the strongest message that wanton and violent behaviour will not be tolerated by the police or the courts.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article