Attack leaves 96-year-old war veteran blind in one eye

PCMadness · 25-10-2007, 09:55 PM

Quote:

A man who left a 96-year-old war veteran blind in one eye after attacking him on a packed tram has been given a three-year supervision order.
Stephen Gordon, 44, launched his unprovoked attack on Shah Chaudhry in Croydon, south London, in December.

Gordon, from Croydon, was found guilty of grievous bodily harm after the attack was caught on CCTV, Croydon Crown Court heard.

The British Transport Police said they were "disappointed" with the sentence.

Walking sticks

"The blow to the victim's head caused serious injury, which has resulted in the victim losing sight in one eye," said Det Sgt Darren Stenning.

"And unfortunately since this assault, the victim's health has deteriorated and he now resides in a care home."

The attack took place on a tram travelling between Sandilands and East Croydon on December 14 last year.

Gordon had tried to push past the victim, who was standing in the aisle leaning on his walking sticks.

As he squeezed under the pensioner's arms his hat was knocked off and he swore at the man and punched him in the face.

Police said two school children who were on the tram chased Gordon. They later gave evidence against him.

This is the most abhorrent thing I have read for a number of reasons. The first thing that jumps out at me, before I even start to get angry at the actual incident is this :-

1) Gordon had tried to push past the victim, who was standing in the aisle leaning on his walking sticks.

Does anyone else see anything wrong with this? Has society got to the point where where everyone is so selfish and lacking in respect of others not to mention totally devoid of any manners or moral values, that they let a partially disabled, 96 year old man stand in the aisle......and no one....not one person offered to help him to a seat or give up their own seat.

I tell you this. If I had been standing next to this guy I would have issued a challenge to every selfish, inconsiderate s*** that was sitting on their **** while this old fella was struggling to stay on his feet. I'd have ended up being hit instead of him, but at least I could have defended myself.

2) I cannot believe that this scumbag was allowed to get away and it was left to two school kids to give chase. This country is turning into a Isle of cowards and villans.

3) The judge in this case as inmost cases are an absolute disgrace to their profession. a 3 year supervision order, which means absolutely nothing. I suspect this scums record reads like war and peace. Had I challenged this guy and smashed him in the face after attacking this old fella, I guarantee that I would have ended up being sent down. It wouldn't matter that I have never been in trouble before.

4) What use are CCTV cameras when even though the evidence is there for all to see the scum get away with it.

I can see when I return to the UK next year I am going to get into strife. I cannot sit by and watch while this sort of stuff happens.

Besoeker · 25-10-2007, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PCMadness

4) What use are CCTV cameras when even though the evidence is there for all to see the scum get away with it.

CCTV evidently caught the perpetrator on camera. The perpetrator didn't "get away with it". He was found guilty and sentenced. Without CCTV, Gordon might not have been caught, charged, convicted and sentenced.

That said, a sentence of a three-year supervision order seems extremely lenient for any conviction of GBH, far less one resulting in the victim's loss of sight in one eye. The punishment is not commensurate with the crime.

PCMadness · 26-10-2007, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Besoeker

CCTV evidently caught the perpetrator on camera. The perpetrator didn't "get away with it". He was found guilty and sentenced. Without CCTV, Gordon might not have been caught, charged, convicted and sentenced.

That said, a sentence of a three-year supervision order seems extremely lenient for any conviction of GBH, far less one resulting in the victim's loss of sight in one eye. The punishment is not commensurate with the crime.

How exactly did he not get away with it? Anything less than a custodial sentence of less than 2 years for this IS getting away with it. People get sent down for longer for insurance fraud.

I can't stand this any longer. If Shah Chaudhry was my grandfather and I had to accept this sentence I would be in grave danger of being arrested for issuing some summary justice of my own.

If we are to avoid vigilante groups forming to provide social justice the Judicial system has to be reformed very quickly.

By the way. You didn't address any of my other points. Is this social decay now accepted or deemed acceptable. I've only been away from the country for 7 years and I am having serious misgivings about returning home next year.

kernow · 26-10-2007, 01:29 AM

Its old news! He should have been flogged and then hung, bu unfortunately the PC brigade won the day (as usual) and all he got was a supervision order!

Zak64 · 26-10-2007, 08:43 AM

I read in the papers (must be true then!) that the assailant was a paranoid schizophrenic. So God alone knows what was going through his head when he hit the old guy.

It's a nasty illness schizophrenia. Sufferers often lead chaotic lives, with compelling and often frightening visual and auditory hallucinations. It has a very high relapse rate, but in the last ten years or so a new generation of drugs with less severe side affects have been introduced, making compliance easier for sufferers.

I'm not for one instant excusing his actions on the grounds of his illness. The question is, was he? "Not my fault your honour, the voices told me to do it!"

Regardless, he should have gone down for it.

PC Madness (great name BTW) has some very good points about the behaviour of the victim's co-commuters.

brian pearson · 26-10-2007, 11:09 AM

How many more times do we need to see the battered faces of pensioners in newspapers. Yet yesterday I heard of a huge sum of money being set aside to pay compensation to prisoners whose human rights have been violated because they had to slop out. I give up !

rjt · 26-10-2007, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Besoeker

CCTV evidently caught the perpetrator on camera. The perpetrator didn't "get away with it". He was found guilty and sentenced. Without CCTV, Gordon might not have been caught, charged, convicted and sentenced.

That said, a sentence of a three-year supervision order seems extremely lenient for any conviction of GBH, far less one resulting in the victim's loss of sight in one eye. The punishment is not commensurate with the crime.

Yes I agree in the sense that he was caught he did not get away with it but like you I agree that the sentence was far too lenient.

Having a criminal record ( deserved in this case) will mean this mans actions will rightly stay with him for many years. It will effect his employment prospects badly and that in turn will put a strain on the state who then have to support him.

We need to look at why people feel the need to behave in such a way as well as much tougher sentences so that people suffer a real punishment for their action.

Little Englander (sour) · 26-10-2007, 01:35 PM

Compared to:
Boy pissess on old lady dying in shop doorway - sentnence 3 years.

Lady swindles boss for £2m - sentence 5 years.

JPdeM looking agitated and nervous - sentence 7 bullets.

I think Besoeker and rjt are taking the ****.

rjt · 26-10-2007, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Little Englander (sour)

Compared to:
Boy pissess on old lady dying in shop doorway - sentnence 3 years.

Lady swindles boss for £2m - sentence 5 years.

JPdeM looking agitated and nervous - sentence 7 bullets.

I think Besoeker and rjt are taking the ****.

Given that both of us have said that the sentence is too lenient how do you draw this conclusion.

John Cooper · 26-10-2007, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zak Zzygote

I read in the papers (must be true then!) that the assailant was a paranoid schizophrenic. So God alone knows what was going through his head when he hit the old guy.

It's a nasty illness schizophrenia. Sufferers often lead chaotic lives, with compelling and often frightening visual and auditory hallucinations. It has a very high relapse rate, but in the last ten years or so a new generation of drugs with less severe side affects have been introduced, making compliance easier for sufferers.

I'm not for one instant excusing his actions on the grounds of his illness. The question is, was he? "Not my fault your honour, the voices told me to do it!"

Regardless, he should have gone down for it.

PC Madness (great name BTW) has some very good points about the behaviour of the victim's co-commuters.

If the problem is that he is mad then he should be detained in a hospital before he kills someone.
However I don't think the other commuters could have done much - was the injury done with the first punch ? Two of them followed him after the attack to help him get caught (that was a waste of time) if I had known the punishment he was getting I would not have bothered.

26-10-2007, 08:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
Zak64 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Little Poland On Sea (Bournemouth) Posts: 818	I read in the papers (must be true then!) that the assailant was a paranoid schizophrenic. So God alone knows what was going through his head when he hit the old guy. It's a nasty illness schizophrenia. Sufferers often lead chaotic lives, with compelling and often frightening visual and auditory hallucinations. It has a very high relapse rate, but in the last ten years or so a new generation of drugs with less severe side affects have been introduced, making compliance easier for sufferers. I'm not for one instant excusing his actions on the grounds of his illness. The question is, was he? "Not my fault your honour, the voices told me to do it!" Regardless, he should have gone down for it. PC Madness (great name BTW) has some very good points about the behaviour of the victim's co-commuters. __________________ "There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws."~ Ayn Rand. Last edited by Zak64; 26-10-2007 at 08:51 AM.

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LinkBacks (?) LinkBack to this Thread: http://www.democracyforum.co.uk/vogon-britain/43606-attack-leaves-96-year-old-war-veteran-blind-one-eye.html
Posted By	For	Type	Date
British Democracy Forum (& UKIP)	Post #4	Refback	26-10-2007 01:53 AM

26-10-2007, 01:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
kernow Uber Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 5,280	Its old news! He should have been flogged and then hung, bu unfortunately the PC brigade won the day (as usual) and all he got was a supervision order!

26-10-2007, 11:09 AM	#6 (permalink)
brian pearson Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: nottinghanshire Posts: 824	How many more times do we need to see the battered faces of pensioners in newspapers. Yet yesterday I heard of a huge sum of money being set aside to pay compensation to prisoners whose human rights have been violated because they had to slop out. I give up !

26-10-2007, 01:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
Little Englander (sour) Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 949 Party: English Democrats	Compared to: Boy pissess on old lady dying in shop doorway - sentnence 3 years. Lady swindles boss for £2m - sentence 5 years. JPdeM looking agitated and nervous - sentence 7 bullets. I think Besoeker and rjt are taking the ****.