Two sentenced after ‘appalling and sustained’ attack in sutton
As the victim lay helpless on the ground, Jonathan Cropley and David Fryer continuously punched, kicked, and stamped on him, severely injuring his face and breaking his nose.
The event occurred on April 16, 2023, at around midnight in Front Street, Arnold. The victim was seen using a cash machine before his attackers approached him, as captured by shocking CCTV footage.
After a brief exchange of words, Fryer punched the man, who appeared to be in his 30s, to the ground. Cropley then proceeded to punch, kick, and stamp on him repeatedly.
The two men, who had both been drinking before the assault, then casually walked away from the scene, leaving their victim unconscious on the ground.
After looking through footage from multiple CCTV cameras, detectives immediately discovered evidence of the attack captured by a CCTV camera in the distance.
The suspects’ features were readily visible at a nearby pub, where they were eventually able to track them down.
Following the release of a public plea, both men turned themselves in.
During their interrogations with the police, none of them offered a response, and the attack’s motivation was never determined.
Daybrook, New York resident Cropley, 44, and Arnold, New York resident Fryer, 59, entered guilty pleas to assault resulting in actual bodily harm.
Each received a 20-month prison sentence suspended for two years, as well as an order to perform 150 hours of unpaid labour.
Nottinghamshire Police PC Emma White stated:
“At the time, the victim of this horrifying and prolonged assault was a man who was just enjoying a night out in his neighbourhood.
“Fryer and Cropley attacked him viciously and for an extended period of time; the majority of the attack occurred when their victim was hunched over on the ground, helpless.
“As they now face justice for what they did that night they should also count themselves lucky that their victim wasn’t more seriously injured and their punishment more severe as a result.
“As this case shows, we are able to make good use of local CCTV networks in cases like this to track, identity and bring offenders to justice.”
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