Gas fitter James Viscount jailed after strangling girlfriend's father
Canterbury Crown Court,
where Viscount was told he would be jailed
by Paul Hooper
A Canterbury gas fitter, who kicked and strangled the father of
his long-term partner, has been jailed for two years.
Bully James Viscount, 29, of Oxford Road, had admitted
inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mark Gower in April this year in
a “revenge” attack.
Canterbury Crown Court had heard how Viscount’s girlfriend and
her mother had planned to go shopping but had to wait
two-and-a-half hours while he was in the pub.
After their trip out, Judge Adele Williams heard that the
girlfriend then sent a text to her mother telling how Viscount had
attacked her frightened dad, who had pleaded with his daughter not
to report the incident.
But Mrs Gower called police and the victim was tracked down and
gave a statement telling how Viscount turned up drunk screaming
vile abuse.
Later after flagging down a police car, Mr Gower said he feared
for his daughter’s safety and returned to her home – only to be
attacked by the drunken yob who punched him up to four times.
Judge Adele Williams told Viscount: “You went round to your
victim’s home in my judgement seeking revenge after telling your
mother-in-law you were going to get him for grassing you up.
“When you got there, you punched your way into the house, kicked
him in the face and attempted to strangle him.”
The court heard how Viscount pushed Mr Gower to the floor and,
after kicking him in the eye, tried to strangle him but the victim
managed to free himself after promising not to alert police.
The court heard that Mr Gower was later taken to hospital where
doctors treated him for facial bruising, a broken tooth and a
fractured cheekbone.
Viscount was arrested but initially tried to claim he had been
acting in self-defence but changed his plea to guilty shortly
before the trial was due to start.
He said he accepted that what he had done was “ a very stupid
thing” which had only happened because he was very drunk.
But the judge told him that it had been “a sustained attack, in
drink, and using a shod foot as a weapon”.
26/11/12
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