Police CCTV Of Station Attack On Blind Man

24 October 2014, 16:03 | Updated: 24 October 2014, 16:12

After two Colchester men were jailed for a total of 2 years and 7 months after a blind and profoundly deaf Suffolk man was thrown onto rail tracks, the CCTV of the attack's been published.

Daniel Webster, 23, of Colchester Road, Coggleshall, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and actual bodily harm against both victims, while Niall Martin, 24, of Speedwell Road, Colchester, pleaded guilty to ABH against one of the men.

The pair were sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday, 22 October for the attack.

The court heard that in the early hours of Thursday, 20 February 2014, the 31 year-old registered blind man, from Ipswich, who is also profoundly-deaf, was attacked on the platform of Chelmsford station, whilst waiting for a train with his brother and a friend.

The court was shown CCTV footage of the victim’s 28 year-old brother coming to the aid of his sibling, only to be attacked in a horrifying assault which saw him thrown onto the track by Webster and attacked as he tried to clamber to safety.

Webster then threw the partially-sighted and deaf man onto the tracks, and punched him in the face as he tried to climb back onto the platform.

The court was shown further footage of Webster and Martin attacking the 28 year-old on the platform.

Both victims were taken to hospital, where the 31 year-old man had surgery on a fractured foot.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Alan Reed said:

"This is one of the most appalling incidents I have investigated. Webster and Martin showed a savage disregard for their victims, and one of the brothers is still suffering from the injuries sustained to his foot.

It is no exaggeration to say the brothers could have been killed after being thrown onto the tracks.

I would like to pay tribute to the victims, who have shown great dignity following what was a terrifying ordeal for them ‘

I hope today’s sentence will provide them with some sense of closure, although in truth, the impact this has had on both of them is likely to remain with them for the rest of their lives."