A pair of violent thugs who gave a minicab driver

A pair of violent thugs who gave a minicab driver a
‘sickening’ and unprovoked beating have been jailed for a total
of 11 years today (Wed).

Father of two Keith Ward, 36, from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex,
emerged from of his bloody ordeal at the hands of Nolan Maxwell
and Alfie Oakley looking barely recognizable.

Last month at Snaresbrook Crown Court a jury found Maxwell,
21, and Oakley, 24, both guilty of wounding Mr Ward – a married
man – with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.

Oakley, of Front Street, Gillingham, Dorset, was also
convicted of robbing Mr Ward, who works for Atlas radio cars, in
Angel Way, Romford, of pnds stlg 40.

Maxwell, Of Gooshays Drive, Harold Hill, Romford, Essex,
was found not guilty of that same robbery charge.

Passing sentence Judge Monier Williams said anyone listening
to the case would have been ‘sickened’ by the brutal onslaught
which left Mr Ward’s face ‘reduced to pulp.

‘
The judge told the shamed defendants: ‘The attack started as
a nasty piece of bullying and ended in unprovoked violence.

‘This clearly was an innocent minicab driver who has been so
shattered by his experience that at present he has no longer been
able to work at night.

‘When terror of this sort stalks the streets particularly at
night the courts take a very serious view.

‘
Judge Williams sentenced Oakley to six years imprisonment
for the robbery with five years concurrent for the wounding charge
– making a total of six years.

The judge sentenced Maxwell to five years imprisonment for the
wounding offence.

The two defendants each looked shaken by the lengths of their
sentences and looked across at members of their family seated in the
public gallery.

As they were led away from the dock Judge Williams said he could
only ‘express a hope’ that a third man involved in the savage attack
is caught and brought to justice.

The court had heard how shortly after midnight on April 11 last
year Mr Ward was told by his controller to return to his office to
pick up the two defendants and their unidentified friend.

Mr Mervyn Burton, prosecuting, said that earlier that evening
Mr Ward had dropped the three off at the nearby ‘Charmers’ winebar.

On that occasion when he asked for the fare he had money thrown
at him.

The jury were told that he was called to picked them up later
on and take them to Harold Hill.

During the journey ‘he took a
neutral stance’ when questioned about who he voted for.

One of the ‘hostile’ trio then tuned the radio in to a music
station and turned it up loud despite Mr Ward’s complaints.

When he slammed on his brakes at a mini-roundabout in Farringdon
Avenue, Harold Hill and turned the volume down ‘one of them said he
had an attitude problem and that they would do something about it,’
said counsel.

Mr Ward told them he did not want any trouble.

But they took
exception when he remarked that he was on his own against three
‘brave boys who wanted to fight,’ continued Mr Burton.

The helpless victim was ‘pinned’ to his seat by one of his
assailants while punches were rained down on him.

‘He tried to defend himself by hitting out,’ said counsel.

During the ferocious assault which left Mr Ward’s nose badly
broken Oakley snatched a money bag from the victim’s side.

The attackers had mentioned taking his car but they decided to
flee, leaving the dazed cabbie covered in blood.

Mr Ward was able to shout into his radio for assistance and
police arrived with one of his colleagues, David Wells, who described
him as ‘unrecognizable.

‘
The cabbie later received hospital treatment for injuries
including a broken nose and multiple lacerations to his face.

He was also severely bruised and his teeth were badly damaged.

Such was the level of disgust felt by Mr Ward’s colleagues at
Atlas that many of them went out to find who was responsible for the
attack.

Several hours after the assault, in the Harold Hill area, Mr
Wells approached blonde haired Maxwell and dark-haired Oakley and
was ‘definate’ that they were two of the men responsible for the
attack.

Weeks later Mr Ward picked them both out at an identification
parade.

During the seven day trial both defendants claimed they were
nowhere near the scene of the beating and they each called alibi
witnesses.

Mr Brian Reece, defending Maxwell, had urged the judge not to
pass a ‘crushing period of imprisonment’ and a ‘sentence from which
he can emerge still young and still with a chance to rebuild his
life.

‘
Defence counsel for Oakley, Miss Helen McCormack, conceded that
it was a ‘nasty attack’ but added that the victim has ‘made largely a
full recovery.

‘
Miss McCormack said that one month in custody for Oakley since
he was convicted of the offences has ‘rudely awakened him to the
realities of prison.

‘
Both defendants had previous convictions for violence and last
year Maxwell had been jailed for his part in a glassing incident in a
wine bar which left a young woman scarred for life.

ends