Covidiot thugs beat up neighbour who complained about illegal lockdown party

Two friends who beat up a neighbour after he complained about their illegal lockdown party have been spared jail.

Oliver Crabtree, 22, and Jordan Band, 21, kicked and headbutted painter and decorator Keith Ebanks who told them they were flouting the law in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, last year.

Ebanks lived next door to Crabtree in Charlotte Street and went to his flat at 7pm on 18 April when he heard music and people partying.

Crabtree slammed the door when Ebanks told him he was breaking lockdown rules.

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Later that night, Crabtree left his flat and returned with Band.

The pair lay in wait for Ebanks before launching a frenzied attack on him when he returned home.

Ebanks suffered horrific facial injuries and two smashed ribs and was unable to work for several months after the attack.

Crabtree and Band, of Leamington Spa, admitted GBH when they appeared at Warwick Crown Court on Tuesday.

They were both handed a two-year suspended sentence, ordered to do 300 hours of unpaid work and told to pay Ebanks £2,500 compensation.

Sentencing them, Recorder Mark Watson said: “It is not, in terms of this type of offence, the most serious level of injury, although of course it is serious.

“It was undoubtedly higher culpability.

“The use of your head and feet make it so, and there is the aggravating feature that it was outside Mr Ebanks’s own home.

“But there are features which reduce the starting point – your lack of convictions and the remorse you have shown.

“I take the view that you two behaved in a way which was out of keeping with the character you both have.

“You have let yourselves down enormously.”

As Ebanks stormed out of the public gallery, Recorder Watson added: “Mr Ebanks may anticipate that the two of you richly deserve custody for what you did, but the decision is mine.”

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During the attack on Ebanks, Crabtree grabbed him from behind and headbutted him in the face.

He fell to the floor and Crabtree began repeatedly punching Ebanks to the head, while Band kicked him in the body.

Jamie Scott, prosecuting, told the court: “A neighbour called out that they should stop or the police were going to be called.

“They did stop, but not before Crabtree kicked Mr Ebanks to the head.”

As his attackers made off, Ebanks collapsed, and was taken by ambulance to hospital where he was treated for two broken ribs.

Watch: What you can and can't do during England's third national lockdown