Vigilante beating for wrong man leads to jail

Robert Anders repeatedly punched 23-year-old Paul Masterson even after he was told he had got the wrong man.

The attack in Manchester Road, Linthwaite, last August left the innocent victim with a broken tooth which had to be replaced, a blooded and swollen nose and tenderness to his ribs, neck and head.

A victim personal statement submitted by his mother also revealed the assault had left Mr Masterson feeling anxious and scared to go out in the dark.

Anders, of Grammar School Road, Warrington, admitted assaulting Mr Masterson and Bradford Crown Court heard his conviction would wreck his own prospects of continuing the work he had previously done with young offenders and other vulnerable individuals.

Prosecutor Dave Mackay told the court how Anders's girlfriend had rung him after a group of young men laughed at her when she dropped a bag. The defendant arrived in a car and as the group fled he ran after Mr Masterson and caught him.

Although Anders's girlfriend said the complainant had not been involved, he began to punch Mr Masterson in the face and continued to punch him on the ground.

Barrister Gerald Hendron, for Anders, said he had overreacted and and had no previous convictions. He was genuinely sorry and was petrified of a custodial sentence.

Judge Jonathan Rose told the 35-year-old that his work with disadvantaged youngsters was to his credit but that was only one side of the scales.

He said Anders should have driven his girlfriend away, but instead he had acted as a vigilante for no good reason.