Bedford man jailed for attack

25 November 2010, 06:08 | Updated: 25 November 2010, 06:10

A convicted murderer from Bedford was jailed yesterday (Wednesday November 24th) for attacking a 36 year old who was going out with a teenage girl in the town.

Andrew Clouden was told by a judge that, given his record, he was in no position to stand in moral judgement on other people.

The 41-year-old had served 14 years in a US jail after being convicted of third degree murder, wounding and firearms offences in a Philadelphia in 1990.

Luton crown court heard he attacked Aldo Brown, 36, with a key in Maryville Road in Bedford on 30 July this year. The victim was left with a puncture wound on his back near the spine, scratches on his left forearm and scratches under his left arm.

Prosecutor David Lee said the problem arose after Mr Brown's sister had told him to leave her home because she was not happy about his relationship with a girl who was 20 years younger.

Clouden, who was in a relationship with the sister, became involved and chased Aldo Brown down Maryville Road before delivering the blows.

Mr Brown, who was bleeding, lay down in the road in front of a car, said the prosecutor. When the woman driver stopped he got in and persuaded her to take him to hospital.

41-year-old Clouden of Ashburnham Road, Bedford pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm. A charge of wounding was not proceeded with.

He was also committed for sentence for a public order offence on 11 March in which he had confronted a hairdresser friend of his former partner, in a row over access to his daughter.

Mr Lee said Clouden was also in breach of a 51 week jail sentence suspended at Luton crown court for two years on 7 November 2008 for attacking his former partner.

He had spent 114 days in custody awaiting sentence for the attack on Mr Brown and had previously spent 123 days in custody before the suspended sentence was passed.

Defence barrister Kevin Molloy said Clouden had got "too involved with family affairs." He said he has now learned his lesson. He said the 1990 killing had been drug-related.

Judge John Bevan passed a total sentence of 9 months saying he the 114 days he had spent on remand would go towards the sentence. 

He told Clouden: "Given your history you are in now position to stand in moral judgement on anyone."