Vicious attackers locked up for 19 years

TWO VICIOUS attackers who battered a man with a brick, shoes and a stick and slashed his throat with a knife in “a prolonged and determined attack” have been locked up for a ttal of 19 years.

Terry Baxter (30) and Stacey Ellis (29) were handed jail sentences of 11 years and two months and eight years respectively after a judge heard how they left their victims seriously injured in a sustained assault over a £5 debt.

Victim Carl Jepson, who had just collected a food parcel was repeatedly punched, kicked and attacked with makeshift weapons by the drunken couple after they chased him through Eastwood.

The 30-year-old was left with an 8cm-long permanent scar on his neck and a fractured cheekbone and nose which has still to mend.

Baxter and his partner Ellis, of Blyth Avenue, Rawmarsh, were initially charged with attempted murder but before a trial at Sheffield Crown Court started the prosecution accepted both of their guilty pleas to a lesser charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The judge Mr Justice Stephen Males told the couple: “This was a prolonged and determined attack, you followed him for some considerable distance to make good the attack.”

Mr Jonathan Sharp, prosecuting, said Mr Jepson encountered Baxter and Ellis, who had both been drinking strong lager, near St Ann's roundabout on February 16 at 3.30pm.

Ellis was aggressive and abusive and demanded £5 from Mr Jepson, which she said he owed her for drugs.

Mr Jepson was scared and ran off but the couple pursued him along Fitzwilliam Road and Milton Road to its junction with Bethel Road.

As the victim paused for breath, the pair caught up and Baxter started swinging punches “like haymakers” which knocked Mr Jepson to the ground, followed by kicks and punches.

Ellis joined in, kicking and punching his chest and face, while still swearing at Mr Jepson, who suffered a broken cheekbone and bloody nose.

Despite his injuries, Mr Jepson got to his feet and headed towards Eldon Park but Baxter jumped on him from behind and he fell down again.

Ellis struck him on the back of the head with a brick then used a stick to beat him, while Baxter took a knife out of his back pocket and slashed Mr Jepson’s neck.

It left an eight centimetre gash and the victim bleeding heavily from a wound which later required 15 stitches at hospital.

Mr Sharp said the couple had left the scene and went to the KFC restaurant at Parkgate to clean up but eagle-eyed CCTV operators became suspicious.

Ellis left behind blood-stained tissue in the ladies’ toilets and the couple were recognised by police from the footage who arrested them at home the same day.

Blood-stained clothing was recovered from Baxter, which showed he had been in a prolonged attack.

Ellis’ clothing was also blood-spattered indicating she had been in close proximity.

In police interviews, Baxter denied having a knife and Ellis made no comment. 

But while on remand, Baxter made a phone call from prison to his mum which was recorded, in which he made a full admission.

The court heard Baxter had been convicted of 63 previous offences including eight for violence against other persons. Ellis admitted to being a regular shoplifter.

Mr Andrew Turton, for Ellis, said it happened on the spur of the moment and although she joined in the attack, she never expected her partner to use a knife.

She has several children by different partners and her contact with them has been limited because of her problems witrh drug addiction.

Ellis had been diagnosed with “emotional unstable personality disorder” and had been physically and sexually abused as a child, the court was told.

Mr Justice Males said the assault was aggravated because it was prolonged, the couple were drunk, a knife was used and they had used shoes, a brick, a stick and the knife as weapons.

He said Baxter held the primary responsibility for the attack.

“It was you who led the chase although it was started by Ellis’ abuse,” he said. “She was clearly a willing participant who joined in the use of weapons.”

He said of the victim: “He has fortunately made a relatively good recovery.”

The judge ordered formal not guilty verdicts to be recorded on the charge of attempted murder and a further charge of robbing Mr Jepson to lie on file.

Neither of the defendants showed any reaction as they were led down to the cells.