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Dad escapes jail term after battering son with a baseball bat and threatening him with a machete

By
September 14, 2018
Uncategorized

Mark Grogan had been drinking and admitted giving son a “good hiding”

A father has been given a suspended jail sentence after he assaulted his son with a baseball bat and threatened him with a machete.

Leeds Crown Court heard Mark Grogan had been out earlier drinking with his son Alex without any problem on January 15.

His son and a friend had returned with Grogan to his flat in Dewsbury where the drinking continued until the early hours. After the friend left both men fell asleep.

Bashir Ahmed, prosecuting, said the problems began when Grogan woke up and realised two treasured air rifles had gone and blamed his son or the son’s friend.

That led to an argument which culminated in Grogan pinning his son against a wall. He managed to get free and said he was leaving.

He had brought his dog with him and put it on the lead but as they were going Grogan partly shut the door trapping the dog’s paw. His son told him to leave the dog alone but Grogan then picked up the baseball bat and began to hit his son with it in the hall.

“At one point he hit him on the left leg causing him to fall over in pain,” said Mr Ahmed. He was also shouting: “I’m going to sort you out good and proper.”

His victim was struck again until he was crying and crawling on the floor towards the door only to be dragged back by Grogan.

He only managed to get away when his father went into the living room and as he got out saw Grogan was behind him waving a machete shouting: “When I get my hands on you I’m going to kill you.”

Alex Grogan, 20 at the time, managed to ring a relative for help and the police. When his father was arrested and interviewed he accepted giving his son “a good hiding, I just flipped.” He said if he had been sober it would never have happened.

Anastasis Tassou, representing Grogan, said his client had been drinking and he was upset about the air rifles but accepted he should have handled things differently. It was an isolated incident but the result had been a split in the family.

Grogan, 45 of Alexandra Crescent, Dewsbury, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and threatening with an offensive weapon. He was given a total of 21 months in prison suspended for two years with 175 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £300 compensation to his son.

Judge Mushtaq Khokhar said it was only his good fortune his son had not suffered even more serious injuries. But if Grogan was jailed immediately and lost his flat and job as a result it could only cause more problems.
Huddersfield Examiner

From 2016

This week’s reports from the courts

By
September 14, 2018
Uncategorized

Alex Grogan, 20, c/o Moorcroft Road, Dewsbury. Took a vehicle without the owner’s consent, drove it without insurance or a licence, and failed to provide a specimen of breath for analysis in Dewsbury on August 29. Curfew with electronic monitoring imposed for 10 weeks, starting September 29, and ordered to take part in an accredited programme for 33 days. Banned from driving for two years. Ordered to pay £130 compensation, an £85 surcharge and £85 costs.

Huddersfield Examiner

Alex Grogan said he was too drunk to remember trying to steal van

By
September 14, 2018
Uncategorized

He damaged the vehicle as he attempted to take it from the owner’s Dewsbury home

A man caught trying to steal a van was so drunk he had no recollection of what happened.

Alex Grogan pleaded guilty to offences of taking a vehicle without consent, failing to provide a specimen of breath, using a vehicle without insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence when he appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard that the victim had parked his Mercedes Sprinter van outside his home on Mitre Street in Dewsbury.

His wife then witnessed it being broken into and called police.

Grogan, of Moorcroft Road, Dewsbury, had broken the glass in the driver’s side window before climbing into the seat.

He had no keys for the vehicle but pulled the handbrake off and it rolled a short distance down the street into the kerb edge.

Police arrived, pulled the 20-year-old from the van and arrested him.

Some damage had been caused to the vehicle as he attempted to start it, with the broken glass and wiring hanging down below the steering wheel.

Grogan then refused to give a breath sample at the police station.

Zahid Majeed, mitigating, said that his client had no recollection of the incident due to drinking.

District Judge Michael Fanning sentenced Grogan to a Dewsbury with 33 days of rehabilitative activities and a 10-week curfew.

He was banned from driving for two years and ordered to pay £130 compensation, £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

Huddersfield Examiner

From 2016

Dewsbury man drove his car at 15-year-old boy — because he was a Muslim

By
November 9, 2016
Uncategorized

A man hurled a torrent of abuse at a schoolboy and then repeatedly drove his car at him – because he was a Muslim.

The terrified 15-year-old was forced to jump over a wall to get away from Lee Blenkin as he zig zagged towards him.

Blenkin, once honoured by the Queen for services to the community, was jailed after admitting to religiously-aggravated assault.

District Judge Michael Fanning told him: “This is disgusting behaviour.

“You caused enormous fear to a 15-year-old boy and the public won’t tolerate this, neither will this court.”

The attack on the boy happened as he walked towards his mosque wearing full Islamic dress on August 9.

As he headed along Carlton Road in Dewsbury Blenkin drove past, wound his window down and shouted something at him.

Jill Seddon, prosecuting, told Kirklees Magistrates’ Court: “The boy said: ‘He seemed to want my attention and I went towards the car.

“‘When I got to the passenger window the man said why did you convert to them?

“‘I said what do you mean and he said why the f**k are you wearing that?

“‘He shouted at me and I believe this was because I was wearing Islamic dress.’”

Blenkin continued to shout at the teenager, making reference to him being a Muslim, and this tirade of abuse lasted for around one-and-a-half minutes.

When the 49-year-old finished shouting, he reversed away before driving at the boy.

He said: “I ran away and the vehicle drove at me again. It did this four times.

“I heard the tyres losing grip and I ran as fast as I could as I thought he was going to hit me.”

The schoolboy eventually took refuge behind a wall, noted down the car number plate and texted the details to his sister who called police.

He added that he felt very distressed by his ordeal.

Zahid Majeed, mitigating, said that his client was “genuinely remorseful” and “bowed his head in shame” over his actions that day.

The court heard that successful engineer Blenkin, of Halifax Road in Dewsbury, was once invited to Buckingham Palace and given an award by the Queen.

Mr Majeed said: “He has nothing but remorse and regret.

“He understands that everyone has rights to their religious freedom and it was none of his business to make any comment about the way the complainant was dressed.”

Judge Fanning jailed Blenkin, who had no previous convictions, for 16 weeks.

He told him: “The only explanation for your behaviour is some type of deep seated animosity towards Muslims.

“You targeted a 15-year-old for no other reason than he was dressed as a Muslim.

“You revved the car engine, spun the wheels and drove at him in a zig zag as he ran no doubt in fear for his life.

“This is a deterrent sentence. Nobody should believe that they can behave in this way and target somebody because of their religion of race or belief.”

Because Blenkin used his car as a weapon, Judge Fanning also banned him from driving for 12 months and eight weeks.

Huddersfield Daily Examiner

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West Yorkshire Police appeal to trace Dewsbury man Jonathan Rushworth

By
June 9, 2015
EDL, English Defence League, Jailed, threatening behaviour
Jonathan Rushworth, wanted by West Yorkshire Police

Jonathan Rushworth, wanted by West Yorkshire Police

POLICE are trying to trace a man to send him back to prison.

Jonathan Rushworth is wanted for recall to prison for breaching the terms of his licence.

Rushworth had been released from custody after serving part of a two-year sentence for an offence of threats to kill.

He had been living in Dewsbury but is originally from the South Elmsall area of Wakefield.

It is thought that he may be in the Bradford or Blackpool areas.

He is described as white, of medium build, around 5ft 8ins tall, with very distinctive light blonde hair and eyebrows and blue eyes.

He was last seen wearing a dark Reebok hooded top, blue jeans, and black trainers.

Anyone with information regarding Mr Rushworth’s whereabouts is asked to contact West Yorkshire Police via 101.
Huddersfield Daily Examiner

This story is from 2011.

This grab is from his current facebook account.
Jon cole

Woman EDL protester escapes jail term over police assault

By
July 29, 2013
assault, community order, EDL, English Defence League, Public order offence, threatening behaviour
Marsden narrowly escaped a custodial sentence.

Marsden narrowly escaped a custodial sentence.

Karen Elizabeth Marsden, 40, of Castleford joined in offensive chanting as part of the EDL protest in Dewsbury town centre last June, Kirklees magistrates heard.

She then assaulted two police officers when she was arrested and police had to use CS spray to subdue her.

Marsden had denied threatening behaviour and assaulting two police officers but was convicted after a trial.

She was warned to expect jail but magistrates imposed an 18-month community order with a supervision requirement. She was ordered to pay £260 towards costs of £620. Magistrates rejected an application for an anti-social behaviour order.

23rd June 2012

Huddesfield Daily Examiner

Two in court after Dewsbury EDL demo

By
July 19, 2013
conditional discharge, Drugs, EDL, English Defence League

TWO men who were arrested during a demonstration in Dewsbury have appeared in court.

Police made five arrests when the English Defence League held a demonstration outside Dewsbury Town Hall on Saturday June 30.

On Wednesday, 20-year old Gary Wellings, of Dudley, was convicted of using threatening words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

He was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £85 costs at Kirklees Magistrates Court.

Magistrates also dealt with Kevin Smith, 53, of Brierley Hill in the West Midlands.

He must pay a £150 fine, £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge after he admitted possessing mephedrone.

A drug forfeiture and destruction order was also made.

One of the other men arrested was jailed last week for two offences.

The two others were released on police bail. One was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and the other for possessing an offensive weapon.


Dewsbury Reporter

Gang Jailed Following Disorder in Kirklees.

By
July 18, 2013
EDL, English Defence League, Jailed, Racial Conviction, racially-aggravated common assault, Racist Abuse

Six West Yorkshire men and one youth have today been sentenced at Leeds Crown Court following a demonstration and disorder in Cleckheaton, Dewsbury and Heckmondwike in March last year.

The defendants from Bradford pleaded guilty to the charges made against them and will spend more than six years behind bars for the roles they played on the day.

Kevin Angelo Docherty (29) of Grisedale Close, admitted charges of violent disorder and racially aggravated criminal damage and was jailed for 14 months. Robert Adrian Collington (27) of Bedivere Road and Mark Peel (24) of Bolton Hall Road were given 12 months each for violent disorder, while David Kenneth Lawler (30) of Bradford Road, Shipley, was given a 13-month sentence for the same offence.

Also jailed for violent disorder was Ben Phelps (19), who received 10 months, while Steven Philip Woodhead (33) of Heysham Drive was given four months for racially aggravated common assault. A 17-year-old youth who cannot be named received a 12-month youth rehabilitation order.

On the afternoon of Saturday 17 March the English Defence League took part in a peaceful, pre-planned demonstration in Cleckheaton Town Centre. After two hours the group of around 60 people dispersed and a number of men made their way to various locations around Kirklees purporting to be part of the EDL displaying posters and flags as well as shouting abuse at members of the public.

Shortly after the demonstration concluded police responded to reports that a window at the Co-Op Travel Agents on Northgate in Heckmondwike had been smashed, then at around 4pm police received reports of disorder in Dewsbury Town Centre on Northgate and Corporation Street.

Two Asian men travelling in a Vauxhall Corsa were approached on Northgate when stopped at traffic lights and were racially abused. They were spat at as well as their car being damaged after a drink was thrown.

A group of men in Corporation Street had also racially abused and assaulted a 35-year-old Asian man. They knocked him to the floor leaving him with a black eye and bruising to his ribs. He received hospital treatment for his injuries.

Detective Inspector Andy Leonard said: “We welcome the sentences passed today and hope they serve as a warning to those who think its acceptable to abuse people because of the colour of their skin or their religious beliefs and also cause mindless damage.

“We support the right to a peaceful protest however this is an example of when we have had to take positive action against the minority who abuse this.

“These incidents cause fear and concern for innocent members of the public caught up in them and we will simply not tolerate such behaviour.

“Kirklees Division embarked upon a painstaking investigation in order to ensure those responsible were brought to justice and all this hard work has resulted in the sentences imposed by the Courts today.

“We would like to thank the many members of the public who have assisted with this investigation which underlines our ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety of the public in Kirklees.”

West Yorkshire Police

Dewsbury Reporter