Man jailed for hammer attack

David Bowden, 45, accused the teenager of stealing a CD player and damaging his car, took him hostage and drove him to a field near Crowhurst, telling him: "They're not going to recognise you when we're finished."

The terrified boy managed to escape to a nearby farm where he raised the alarm and Bowden was arrested at home, Lewes Crown Court heard.

The teenager, who cannot be named, was taken to the Conquest Hospital and left the next day on crutches.

The court was told father-of-one Bowden has 34 previous convictions for 85 offences including robbery, burglary, assault, theft and aggravated vehicle taking.

Gary Perry, prosecuting, told the court the drama began at about 6pm on October 11.

He said: "The aggrieved was walking along London Road and the defendant at the time was driving along the same road with his partner and four children.

"He believed the victim was responsible for damage and theft of a CD player from his car.

"He stopped and grabbed him from behind. There was a short struggle and the victim wriggled out of a top he was wearing and ran away naked from the waist up across nearby gardens. He was eventually cornered at an out-house at nearby premises.

"The defendant persuaded the victim to come down from the roof of the out house, saying he was not going to hurt him and there would be no trouble.

"He was persuaded to get into the car.

"The victim was to say he believed he was being taken back to recover his top but the defendant drove out into the country to a field near Crowhurst.

"He then got a claw hammer out of the boot and threatened the victim with it, telling him to get out.

"At that stage the victim did not move. He was then told to take off his clothes and was again threatened with the hammer.

"He then removed all his clothes and reluctantly got out of the car.

"The defendant then, without warning, struck him about seven or eight times on the left leg with the hammer, saying: 'They're not going to recognise you when we're finished'.

"He told the victim to run and that he was going to course him like a rabbit.

"The victim managed to escape to a nearby farm and police were alerted."

Bowden was arrested at home and admitted chasing him but denied the incident in the field.

The victim was taken to the Conquest Hospital with more than 50 scratches and grazes sustained while escaping through a hedge. He also had bruising and swelling to his left shin and tenderness to his left knee and could only take weight on his right leg.

Bowden, of Cherry Tree Close, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He pleaded not guilty to a charge of kidnap which was ordered to lie on file.

Richard Body, defending, said: "The family own an old Peugeot car which was broken into. The plastic casing around the ignition was taken off and it was quite clear somebody had tried to steal it.

"The family suspected the victim in this case but had no firm evidence. They have another car which was garaged and a CD player from that car was taken.

"Suspicion fell on the boy not least because a day or so later he was found to be selling a similar CD to a friend of Bowdens.

"Bowden was convinced the boy had stolen this CD player and vandalised it. He didn't seek him out but four days later he and his family were going to feed horses they have when they chanced upon the boy walking down a road in St Leonards.

"Bowden stopped and got out of the vehicle and approached the boy and there was a struggle. The boy was able to escape to a roof where he took refuge but was coaxed down.

"The boy then approached Bowden's partner and they embraced and he voluntarily got into the car.

"He accepts driving off on a route he would have taken anyway to feed the horses in Bexhill but stopped on the way.

"He accepts at that stage the boy would have wished to get out of the car but was unable to do so. He accepts they went into a field and he used a hammer in the way the Crown says he did. He does regret it but there was some provocation.

Jailing him, Judge Richard Brown told Bowden: "I accept there may well have been some unacceptable behaviour from the victim.

"He may well have been the chief suspect or the actual villain in the theft of your CD player and damage to your car. But having said that this must have been a very, very frightening experience for him. He is 16 years of age, you are pushing on 46.

"You're lucky there were not even more serious injuries. This offence is so serious only a custodial sentence can be justified."

Bowden was jailed for a total of 27 months.