Huddersfield man launched 'deliberate, wicked thuggery' in knuckle duster shop attack

A Huddersfield man has been spared jail after a vicious assault on a victim in a Bradford shop.

At his trial in Bradford Crown Court, the court heard the judge explain how James Ross planned the attack in October 2022, and that it was miraculous his victim did not suffer more serious injuries. The 33-year-old man was wearing a balaclava and armed with a metal pole and knuckle-duster when he confronted the victim outside a store on Norman Lane.

The court was shown CCTV footage which showed Ross trying to force his way into the shop after the complainant sought refuge. Ross managed to barge his way in and then repeatedly punched the victim while others stood by and watched.

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Prosecutor Jessica Lister told Recorder Simon Jackson KC that the female shop assistant shouted at Ross to get off and pressed her panic alarm.

At the start of the incident, Ross used the metal pole to smash a window in the man's car. While the assault took place in the shop, an unknown man caused more damage to the victim's vehicle.

The victim suffered numerous cuts, bruises, and lumps from the blows and in a message sent by Ross later he said he had only stopped the attack because the alarm had been pressed. Ross, of Towson Crescent, Dalton, initially denied being responsible for the attack, but at a crown court hearing last month he admitted charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, criminal damage and possessing the offensive weapons.

Recorder Jackson was told that Ross now had the day-to-day care of a child and sending him to prison would have an utterly devastating impact on the him. The judge said it was only possible to see how shocking the incident was when the video clips were shown.

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He said Ross had planned to give the man a beating and had taken someone else with him. The judge said the man had been “panic-stricken” as he tried to hold the door shut and he had received no assistance from the three other people inside the shop.

Recorder Jackson said he counted between a dozen and 15 blows from Ross while he wearing his knuckle-duster and it was remarkable, and miraculous, that the man suffered only cuts and bruises. He said Ross could have fractured the man’s face with the blows from that weapon and it could have caused very serious and long-lasting damage.

“This was planned, deliberate, wicked thuggery,” said Recorder Jackson.

The judge said that Ross’ responsibility for the child had spared him from immediate custody. Ross was sentenced to 21 months in jail, but the term was suspended for two years.

He must do 300 hours unpaid work for the community and comply with a four-month electronically monitored curfew between 8pm and 6am. Ross will also have to take part in 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.