Thug spared jail for Sankey Bridges hammer attack that broke bones

Dean Simpkin was spared jail for the assault, in which he was told he ‘completely overreacted’.

The 27-year-old, who wept in the dock during the sentencing hearing, had to be dragged away from his victim during the incident.

But the court was satisfied that he can be rehabilitated, and that he was remorseful for his actions.

Simpkin appeared to be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday over charges of inflicting grievous bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon in public and possession of cocaine.

Nardeen Nemat, prosecuting, explained how the complainant was at the time a work colleague of Simpkin, and the pair lived close to each other.

On July 9 last year, both were in a pub together after work drinking alcohol.

At around 8pm, the complainant went home, where his partner told him she had received messages from the defendant’s partner regarding a subject of disagreement.

An hour later, the complainant visited Simpkin’s then-home on Bramhall Street in Sankey Bridges to speak about what had been said, but he was told he not home and left.

At 11pm, the man’s partner received messages from the defendant, who said: “I’m going to kill the c**t.”

Following this, the complainant again went to Simpkin’s home and shouted for him to come outside, and while he was stood at the front door, he felt blows to his back.

The incident occurred on Bramhall Street in Sankey Bridges (Image: Google Maps)

This caused him to fall to the floor, but he continued to be hit to the body. The man put his arms up to protect his face and body, and as he turned onto his side he saw the defendant standing over him with a claw hammer in his hand, shouting and swearing.

It was at this point that the defendant’s partner came out and dragged him away, with the complainant getting to his feet and leaving.

He suffered a number of injuries which doctors said were consistent with being hit with a claw hammer.

These included a broken wrist in two places, one of which was a clean break, as well as a small break to the forearm and lacerations to his neck, legs and arms.

A hospital appointment the following month revealed that he only had 30 per cent movement, and in an impact statement less than a week after the attack, the complainant said he was struggling to complete basic tasks such as holding a fork and tying shoelaces.

In a further statement in May this year, he described the impact of the attack as ‘massive’ and spoke of how he is ‘constantly looking over his shoulder’.

Simpkin answered no comment in his police interview after being arrested, with the court hearing how he has 12 previous convictions for 41 offences, including for assault, burglary and criminal damage.

In defence of his client, Paul Treble, said that although this was a serious incident, the court could consider suspending the sentence.

This was due to the defendant’s guilty pleas, albeit late before his set trial date, which meant the victim did not have to give evidence.

He also spoke of how Simpkin had been on an electronically monitored curfew for more than a year with no further offences.

Dean Simpkin was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court

The barrister said that on the night in question, the defendant was not looking for trouble and that the complainant twice came looking for him.

He said that Simpkin ‘overreacted’ while in drink and referred to his ‘difficulty with thinking and anger management – areas which could be rehabilitated’.

Mr Treble added that his client’s last conviction was in 2016, with him ‘maturing’ since, with the dad being a ‘family man’ who is a career for dependant family members and has shown ‘regret and remorse’.

Before sentencing, judge Denis Watson said: “You completely overreacted to his attendance.

“You could have easily stayed inside and called the police in the event his behaviour merited it, but instead you went outside with a hammer and attacked him, causing a broken wrist and forearm and a number of blows to the back.”

However, he added: “I am satisfied you have shown genuine remorse for the events and the consequences you have caused him.

“Punishment can be dealt with in other ways than immediate custody.”

Simpkin, now of Red Hell Way in Hindley, was sentenced to 20 months in prison suspended for 18 months.

He must also complete 35 rehabilitation activity requirement days, abide by a four-month electronically monitored curfew and respect a restraining order not to approach or contact the complainant and his partner for four years.

In addition, the court approved an order for the forfeiture and destruction of a quantity of cocaine found in his possession.