Spennymoor street attacker back in jail for 21st time

Callum Brown, who has a history of convictions for violence, was walking along the A688 near Spennymoor on Saturday August 13, last year, when he came across the other man, at 11pm.

Durham Crown Court was told the other man feared Brown might be wanting his crack pipe as there had been a previous disagreement between the pair.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said Brown pushed the victim to the ground and delivered several blows to his face, breaking his nose.

Read more: Spennymoor park rapist carried out 'disturbing and depraved' attack

Mr Newcombe told the court the complainant eventually managed to get to his feet, and, “by sheer misfortune”, was struck by a van as he fled, an incident said to have nothing to do with the defendant.

When Brown was later arrested and interviewed he denied assaulting the other man, who was said to have suffered worse injuries as a result of the road collision.

The 29-year-old defendant, of no fixed abode, but formerly of Seaham, denied a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm, at a crown court plea hearing, on September 21.

His case was adjourned for a trial to take place at the court this week and he was remanded to remain in custody.

But on the day of trial, on Wednesday (January 25) he offered a guilty plea to assault causing actual bodily harm, as an alternative to the original charge.

It was accepted by the Crown and Brown appeared back for sentence today (Thursday January 26), by video link from nearby Durham Prison, where he has been on remand.

Mr Newcombe told the sentencing hearing that the defendant’s record of offending goes back to 2008, as a juvenile.

But he said since 2010 there have been convictions for assaults, wounding, threatening behaviour, intimidating a witness and battery, plus “numerous” breaches of an anti-social behaviour order.

In 2021 he was also convicted of possessing a fake firearm, found dumped in a Spennymoor sweetshop, for which a suspended sentence was activated, in 2021.

Read more: Man arrested with imitation firearm in Spennymoor, Co Durham

John Batchelor, for Brown, conceded the “aggravating feature” of the offence was the defendant’s record.

“The defendant accepts he was responsible for punching the complainant, who he had known for some time.

“There had been previous issues between them some days before.

“On this occasion, however, the assault was, somewhat, spontaneous.

“He accepts he spontaneously struck the complainant a couple of times and broke his nose.

“The unfortunate later incident was nothing to do with this defendant.

“He was not present at that.”

Mr Batchelor told the court: “He’s a man who has been to prison 21 times and served a total of 12 years.”

But he said the “motivation” for the defendant is to get back to his partner and her “supportive” family, adding that it was, “entirely in his own hands.”

Recorder Tom Moran, who said he read a “helpful” letter from the defendant, told him: “You have a bad record of violence.

“About 11pm that day you had a confrontation with the victim and there’s obviously some history between you.

"The fact is, you attacked him, got him to the floor, and punched him to the face and you fractured his nose.

Read next:

               Have you seen Callum Brown? Wanted in connection with criminal damage and malicious communications

               11 months out of jail in 9 years - Seaham man celebrates as he escapes another spell behind bars

               Spennymoor man's appeal to cut short time in custody for breaching asbo rejected

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“He was obviously frightened by that and ran off and, in doing so, he was knocked down by a van, which had nothing to do with you and which caused him much more serious injury.”

Imposing a 14-month prison sentence, Recorder Moran said he hoped that, upon his release, the defendant would be able to carry through the good intentions expressed in his letter to the court.

Recorder Moran also made Brown subject to a restraining order forbidding him from approaching or communicating with his victim, either directly or indirectly, for five years.