Chatham 'bully' jailed after assault on pensioner at his Medway home

A CHATHAM 'bully' has been jailed for five years after an assault on a pensioner in which he punched and pushed him at his Gillingham home.

Darren Magson, 30, of Luton Road, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday.

The court heard that in October 2011, a 69-year-old man was opening the garage to put his car away at his house in Nelson Road, when he noticed Magson attempting to open the door of the vehicle.

When the elderly man challenged Magson, the 30-year-old punched the pensioner in the face before wrestling him to the ground. 

He then held the victim by his neck and ordered one of two accomplices to search the man's pockets. 

After they found a small amount of change in a wallet, they threw the purse at the man on the ground and left.

Police arrested Magson on 20 October that year and during interview he admitted hitting the pensioner, but claimed it was self-defence.

Magson pleaded not guilty to the charge but after a four-day trial he was sentenced to four-and-a-half years for assault with intent to rob.

He was also sentenced to a further six months in jail for contempt of court, after escaping from the dock during the trial and attempting to assault the judge and a police officer.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Rob Sircar of Kent Police, said: "Magson is a bully that tried to use force to get his own way in what was an unprovoked and unwarranted attack on an elderly gentleman outside his own home.

"We arrested Magson swiftly after the attack and his actions in court, when he tried to assault the judge, shows that the best place for him is behind bars."