Thug jailed for unprovoked attack on 81-year-old pensioner

Witnesses described how Jack Brooke ‘rained punches’ on his 81-year-old victim as he walked down Knutsford Road in Latchford – all with a ‘nasty, evil’ look on his face.

The 28-year-old was disturbed midway through the attack by a passing cyclist, who bravely pulled the attacker off the elderly gentleman.

The perpetrator, who strolled off into the distance ‘as if nothing had happened’, was identified through a social media appeal issued by the victim’s daughter, arrested and charged with assault.

He was brought before Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, where he heard of the devastating impact his actions had on his victim and was subsequently jailed.

When asked in court for his address, he told the clerk that he did not have one and that he had spent the previous night on the street.

Prosecutor Angela Blackmore explained how the incident occurred on October 22 at around 1.30pm, with a witness seeing the 81-year-old crossing paths with Brooke on the pavement.

They both did side-stepping motions to get out of each other’s way, which the witness said appeared to be jovial, but the younger male then grabbed his victim with a clenched fist and punched him two or three times.

A second witness, the cyclist, initially thought it was two young lads having a scuffle, but realised one was much older after getting closer.

He pulled Brooke off the older man and pushed him away. He looked the defendant square in the face and recalled how he had a ‘nasty, evil look, almost smiling’.

Jack Brooke was jailed at Warrington Magistrates' Court

The cyclist noted how the elderly gentleman was in shock, seemed confused and wanted to go home. He had a red face from where he had been hit.

The witness waited to make sure the defendant didn’t come back, but Brooke was spotted walking leisurely towards the town centre ‘as if nothing had happened’.

In his statement to police, the victim said he was left in pain with a grazed knee and bruised ear, suffers from headaches, has ringing in his ears and has blurred vision.

He chose not to tell his family at first as he did not want to upset or worry them, but he told his partner next day when they saw his bruises.

In a second impact statement, he added: “He punched me for a reason I will never know, and the attack will stay with me. I keep replaying in my head him towering over me and invading my space.

“I cannot thank my family enough, and I also want to thank the cyclist, as I can’t imagine what would have happened if he wasn’t there.

“He, the man who offered to take me home, and the other members of the public who helped me have restored my faith that there are good people in this world.”

The victim’s daughter was present in court and read her own statement, in which she said: “It is incredibly difficult to comprehend that someone would attack my dad in such a brutal and unprovoked manner.

“Since the attack he has started to recover physically, but mentally not so. He is existing but not living, and I’m worried about his mental health deteriorating beyond repair.

“Brooke chose to pick on a man he knew he could physically overcome – a defenceless 81-year-old man who has served his country.

The incident happened on Knutsford Road near Bridgefoot

“He is young and will get another chance, but I can’t say my dad will ever recover. His passion for life has left him and may not return.”

Ms Blackmore revealed to the court that Brooke has no previous convictions, but he did receive a police caution in January 2020 for being drunk and disorderly.

In defence of his client, Gary Heaven said: “There is nothing I can say that would excuse the defendant’s conduct. The real issue is how best to deal with this.

“It is my point of view as the advocate for this young man that I would rather see him have the opportunity of engaging with the probation service than him just going to custody.

“You could give him a community order, which would please me, but it may not please other people in the court, and people who read the Warrington Guardian might not say it is an appropriate punishment.”

Mr Heaven added that Brooke pleaded guilty at the first time of asking to the assault charge and also to a separate charge of criminal damage.

On that occasion, on August 2, he hurled a plant pot through a bay window and caused £7,000 worth of damage.

Jailing him for 18 weeks, chair magistrate Stephen Walton said: “This was a prolonged and vicious attack on a vulnerable elderly person.”

Brooke was also ordered to pay £150 compensation for the damaged window – the amount paid for in excess by the victim on their insurance.