Flowers led to vicious assault

9:52am Tuesday 19th June 2001

A THUG who threw bricks at a man with mental disabilities because he was seen as a “soft touch” for carrying flowers on Mother's Day was jailed for seven years.

Jason Stone, 20, hurled rubble at Nigel Hollins, leaving him bleeding on the ground with a broken cheekbone when he found he had no money in his pockets.

Inner London Crown Court heard Mr Hollins was attacked by Stone and his accomplice David Turner, 25, when he was seen carrying flowers and a box of chocolates for his mum on Mothering Sunday last year.

Mr Hollins, 28, of West Norwood, was left severely traumatised when he was hit by up to three rocks and required a metal plate inserted in his face.

The court heard Stone, of Kent House Road, Beckenham, and Turner, of Belvedere Road, Crystal Palace, had befriended Mr Hollins at West Norwood Station after setting out to rob him.

Stone got his attention by talking about trains and railways and the pair then led him to an alleyway. It was when they discovered the victim had no money that Stone started throwing bricks at him.

Stone was convicted by a jury of causing grievous bodily harm. He had already pleaded guilty to attempted robbery.

Turner was convicted by a jury of attempted robbery and jailed for three years.

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