By James Simons-
An unheralded boxer has been jailed for three years and nine months after viciously assaulting a former partner and leading a violent gang invasion on a couple’s home. Benjamin Kane Thompson was jailed for a series of violent conducts that saw him mastermind an invasion into the home of his partner..
Thompson, 29, of Snape Street, Keighley, was convicted by Bradford and Keighley magistrates of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on his ex-partner in her own home on August 15 last year.
Prosecutor Rebecca Young said he attacked her after midnight, punching and kicking her to the head and body, pushing her down several stairs and continuing the assault when she was on the ground.
Thompson had committed an affray on April 18, along with his father, Gavin Thompson, 49, of the same address, and 29-year-old James Dyson, formerly of Parkwood Street, Keighley, but now living out of the town.
The court heard that all three went to the home of a couple late at night because of a dispute about social media postings between the occupants and Benjamin Thompson.
Benjamin Thompson went into the property, followed by his father who picked up a baseball bat he found at the address and brandished it in the ensuing violence. The couple were both injured. The man sustained bruising and swelling to his face while his partner had bruising to her arm and leg.
Dyson stayed outside but he damaged the kitchen window and threw objects at the property, Miss Young said.
All three defendants pleaded guilty to affray and Benjamin Thompson admitted dangerous driving later that night.
The court heard that the former partner he had assaulted heard loud bangs at 11pm and saw a hooded figure damaging her car. She was in the road inspecting the smashed windows when a white BMW driven by Benjamin Thompson accelerated at her, forcing her to jump clear.
He then mounted the pavement and drove at a neighbour, striking him on the knee with the vehicle but leaving him uninjured.
All three men were arrested soon afterwards.
Gerald Hendron said in mitigation for Benjamin Thompson that he had not come to the attention of the police or the courts before the assault occasioning actual bodily harm committed when he was 27.
References described him as hardworking, reliable and trustworthy.
Laura McBride, Gavin Thompson’s barrister, said he ran a successful window cleaning business that employed others.
He went into the couple’s home to get his son out of there.
“He wasn’t thinking straight and things got out of control,” Miss McBride said.
Character references spoke of a helpful and caring man and he had not been in any trouble for almost 20 years.
Christopher Styles, for Dyson, said he did not go into the property. He joined in the affray at a later stage and did not threaten or assault anyone.
He had a previous conviction for affray when he was 18 but he had since led an honest and law-abiding life.
Dyson was well thought of in his work as a roofer and he had now moved out of Keighley, Mr Styles said.
Judge David Hatton QC said Benjamin Thompson had used “considerable and unpleasant violence to others.”
The assault on his former partner was “vicious and prolonged” and continued when she was defenceless on the floor.
Then he had led “a gang attack of drunkards” in the invasion of the couple’s home, followed by the dangerous driving.
“It’s a catalogue of appalling conduct that can only be met with an immediate custodial sentence,” Judge Hatton said.
Thompson was jailed for 18 months for the ABH, 19 months for affray and eight months for dangerous driving. All the sentences were consecutive, making 45 months in all.
He was banned from driving for 34 months.
Gavin Thompson was sentenced to 19 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 240 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation activity days.
Dyson received a 14-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, with 180 hours of unpaid work, ten rehabilitation activity days and attendance at a probation service programme.
Judge Hatton made restraining orders banning all three defendants from having contact with Benjamin Thompson’s former partner or the couple.