Dad and Son in court for battering businessman

GASPS and screams reverberated around court this week, as magistrates watched CCTV footage of unconscious businessman Andrew Woods being viciously kicked in the head. Mr Woods lay unconscious on the ground outside the Rose and Crown Hotel in Wisbech for s

GASPS and screams reverberated around court this week, as magistrates watched CCTV footage of unconscious businessman Andrew Woods being viciously kicked in the head.

Mr Woods lay unconscious on the ground outside the Rose and Crown Hotel in Wisbech for seven minutes, as he was attacked by father and son Michael and Martin Robinson.

Mr Woods' wife Elaine shouted out in anguish in court, as she saw the footage for the first time, and other people in Wisbech courthouse were visibly shocked.

Forty-three-year-old Michael Robinson, and 24-year-old Martin Robinson, both of Mount Pleasant Road, Wisbech, admitted causing actual bodily harm to Mr Woods; and Michael Robinson further admitted assaulting Mr Woods's friend Peter Turner during the incident on December 21.

After watching the footage, the court decided their sentencing powers of up to nine months custody were insufficient, and sent both men to be sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court.

Prosecuting, David Myles said Andrew Woods and Peter Turner were in good spirits as they walked across Wisbech Market Place around 9pm, when they saw a group of six or seven men outside the hotel.

"Mr Turner can recall laughing and joking with his friend as he walked past, and made some jocular remark to one of the people in the group," he said.

"Without any warning, the group became aggressive, Mr Turner was pushed and it was clear that the men wanted to fight with them."

Mr Turner was punched before running away, and suffered slight swelling to his forehead, and a bruised chin. There was no footage showing how Mr Woods landed up on the ground.

"We see both defendants approach and kick him in the head," said Mr Myles. "He was also kicked in the leg and someone trod on his arm. He remained unconscious for seven minutes on the ground, until help arrived and he was stretchered away.

"He knew nothing about the attack until he woke up in hospital."

Mr Woods, the managing director of a welding and fabricating firm, suffered extensive facial bruising, and bruising to his arms and legs.

Representing Michael and Martin Robinson, solicitor Ben Pearson said: "In no way do they seek to excuse what happened, and both have pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.