Duo jailed for attacking neighbour in own home during group attack in which pint glass was used as weapon

Defendants Stephen Hudson and Louise Porter assaulted their neighbour, the complainant, in his flat, together with a second, unidentified male, on February 3 this year, Sheffield Crown Court heard.

Summarising the facts of the case, Judge Graham Robinson described how when the complainant initially moved into the flat block in Catcliffe for residents requiring ‘supported living’ in November 2021, Hudson, Porter and the complainant had enjoyed a friendly relationship and had previously spent time drinking together.

“For whatever reason, things changed, such that late in the evening on February 3 the three of you visited the complainant and entered through the door. You, Mr Hudson, punched the complainant to the left side of his face, causing him to fall on to the sofa. You and the other male attacked him while he was there,” the judge said.

“The other male grabbed a candle holder, and began to hit him with it.

“Ms Porter, you picked up a pint pot and began to hit him to his head.”

“I’ve seen the photos, there was an excess of blood.”

Following the attack, the complainant managed to escape, and was helped by members of the public who subsequently called the police, prosecuting barrister, Hannah Walker, told the court during an August 31 hearing.

Ms Walker said complainant suffered a number of injuries in the attack including three lacerations to his head, which had to be glued, a cut to the right side of his head and swelling to his cheek.

Summarising the complainant’s victim impact statement, Ms Walker said he described the fact the attack took place in his own home as ‘frightening,’ adding that the events of that night had a ‘significant impact’ on him.

Following the attack, the complainant noticed that some items were missing from his flat, consequently the defendants were initially charged with robbery.

However, Hudson, aged 53, and 52-year-old Porter, both of Main Street, Rotherham, entered guilty pleas to an alternative charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, which was accepted by the prosecution.

Both defendants have a sizeable number of previous convictions, with Hudson’s record stretching to 91 offences from 26 convictions, and Porter’s to 52 convictions from 113 offences.

The second male involved in the attack has not been identified but Ms Walker said the complainant had described him as being an Asian male in his 40s, of a large build and around 5’9 tall.

Edward Moss, defending Porter, said his client had ‘genuine remorse’ for her actions, and told the court she has suffered from a dependency on Class A drugs for ‘nearly all her adult life’.

He added that she has spent the last seven months in prison on remand, during which time she has come off Class A drugs, and now has a ‘script for methadone’.

Katherine White, representing Hudson, said he wished to express, through her, his ‘remorse’ for ‘what occurred’.

“He’s found his time in custody particularly difficult,” said Ms White, adding that Hudson suffers from septic arthritis and has to walk with crutches.

Judge Robinson sentenced both defendants to 70 weeks’ custody, and told them they are likely to be released in around six weeks due to time spent on remand.