A man repeatedly punched a stranger in the head following a disagreement on a bus.
25-year-old Jake Stanley Wills appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court this morning (Thursday, 22 September) to be sentenced for the assault.
Prosecutor Tom Power said the defendant, of Uxbridge Road, Freshbrook, was boarding a bus on 7 May this year when he was involved in a verbal altercation with another man.
Following the ‘minor disagreement’ with the fellow passenger, Wills repeatedly punched him in the right side of the face – causing the victim some pain and swelling.
The court heard that the defendant has a history of violent offences, including assaults in 2019 which saw him sent to prison. He is currently serving a suspended prison sentence for criminal damage and harassment earlier this year.
Charlotte Frizzell, defending, said that her client has mental health issues and a care plan is being put in place to allow Wills to work with specially-trained staff.
She said he is “very motivated and open to the intervention”, adding that he has “a clear and mature understanding in relation to his behaviour, especially his aggressive behaviour”.
Ms Frizzell said that he has also recently been diagnosed with a type of MS and is currently out of work and claiming benefits.
Establishing that his suspended sentence order was imposed for offences that pre-date these, the magistrates decided to impose a fine of £120 and compensation to the victim of £100.
Magistrates also fined him £120 for a public order offence after he breached a conditional discharge. He must also pay £85 costs and a £34 surcharge.
