A HOMELESS Rugby man had part of his ear bitten off by a woman who joined in after twin brothers had launched an attack on him in a disused graveyard.
As a result, twins Christopher and Scott Griffiths and Rebecca Green were all charged with wounding their victim.
But at Warwick Crown Court the prosecution accepted pleas of guilty by Christopher Griffiths and Scott Griffiths to an alternative offence of assault.
The 33-year-old brothers, of Harry Park Road, Wyken, Coventry, were both sentenced to six months in prison suspended for 18 months and ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work.
A bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of Green, 36, of Cotterills Lane, Ward End, Birmingham, who still faces the wounding charge, after she failed to turn up at court last month.
Prosecutor Suki Dhadda said that in April last year a homeless alcoholic was in a disused graveyard in Church Street, Rugby, which is often frequented by homeless people.
There was a conversation between him and the Griffiths twins, which led to a scuffle breaking out and him exchanging punches with Christopher.
“Thereafter he left the park and crossed Church Street, from where he began to shout abuse at them, and they ran across the road and confronted him.”
At some stage the man picked up a piece of wood to defend himself, but Scott Griffiths took it from him, and he was then punched and kicked by both brothers.
“He covered his face and head with his arms, but the attack continued, and they were joined by a third person, Miss Green, and she took a bite out of his ear,” said Miss Dhadda.
Judge Andrew Lockhart QC pointed out: “Her only action was to bite the ear, so the other grazing and bruising is the responsibility of these two.”
When they were interviewed the Griffiths twins accepted their parts in the incident, with both ‘expressing horror at what had happened at the teeth of Miss Green,’ the judge observed.
Miss Dhadda added that both brothers had previous convictions, including an offence of attempted robbery, with Christopher having the more extensive record.
Judge Lockhart told them: “You are 33-year-old twins. There is a bond between you, and you act together.
“A vulnerable man was in a disused graveyard, and no matter how badly he behaved, that didn’t matter, you assaulted him, you didn’t walk away.
“I accept the injury he sustained at your hands was not major, but he was vulnerable and this was a joint offence, and one of you used a shod foot.
“Custody is justified, but I take into account your remorse, and I am prepared to suspend it.”
