The judge described the attack as ‘sadistic’
A vicious and “sadistic” thug brutally attacked a vulnerable man in his own home – using “torture” and “gratuitous” violence – over a mistaken belief that the victim was a “grass”. Aggressive and “dangerous” Alex Hunsley kept the man prisoner for five hours and launched the merciless and prolonged beating even though the terrified victim had serious physical problems.
The relentless attack included kicking, stamping, jumping on his back, biting and pouring toilet bleach into the victim’s hair, Hull Crown Court heard. Hunsley, 34, of Wellington Road, Beverley, but recently in custody on remand, admitted causing grievous bodily harm to the man with intent and an offence of false imprisonment on May 23.
Amber Hobson, prosecuting, said that the man, now 51, was vulnerable, had physical problems, including with his spine, and he was helped by a support worker. On May 29, the support worker alerted the police to say that the man had been assaulted and had suffered numerous injuries.
The victim had been at his home in Beverley when Hunsley and two other men went there. Hunsley believed that the man had “grassed up” his cousin to the police but this was not true.
He put the man into a headlock and told him: “If I find out you have grassed, I will do you in.” He asked the victim why he had “grassed”. Hunsley bit his face, ears and nose as well as hitting him on the head with a bottle of Stella beer.
He told the man: “If you want to brain damage someone, this is how you do it.” Hunsley bent the man’s fingers, stamped on him, repeatedly kicked him, jumped on his lower back despite his spine condition and bent his legs and arms.
He choked and strangled him and poured toilet bleach in his hair. The victim was kept in his flat for five hours and Hunsley told him: “You’re lucky I haven’t f***ing killed you.”
He called him a “f***ing grass” and made threats, including that, even if he served 10 years in prison, he did not care about the consequences and would look for and find the man. The three men left and the victim was left in extreme pain. He rang for an ambulance but was scared to report the incident to the police.
He was seen by a doctor and claimed that he had fallen down the stairs. He could not stand because of back pain and he had a fractured rib. He had scars and blisters on his cheeks.
The man later said that he suffered from nightmares, flashbacks and was constantly on edge. It was a prolonged attack with “torture” and “sadistic violence” and “gratuitous degradation”.
During police interview, Hunsley made no comment to all questions. He had convictions for 53 previous offences, including for violence, theft and public disorder.
He had been jailed in September 2018 for grievous bodily harm after he and two other men attacked a man in his own home after forcing entry. The victim suffered broken ribs and bleeding on the brain from kicking and stamping.
Julia Baggs, mitigating, said that Hunsley and the man had known each other for about a year and Hunsley wrongly thought that the victim had sold drugs to his friend. “He became angry,” said Miss Baggs.
“His behaviour was nothing short of absolutely appalling. He fully accepts responsibility for his actions. He is shocked by his own behaviour. He has not sought to minimise that.
“He understands the impact, both physical and mental, of this incident and he is sorry for that and the effect that it has had on him.” Hunsley had a history of alcohol and drug misuse and he found himself using alcohol again.
“He was in something of a downward spiral before this incident,” said Miss Baggs. Hunsley had previously done factory work.
Judge Alexander Menary said that Hunsley detained the man in the flat for five hours over a “grievance” that he had against the victim for a mistaken belief about a report made to the police. He became “worked up” and launched a “sadistic attack” on him.
“There was torture or sadistic conduct,” said Judge Menary. It was lucky that it was not fatal.
Hunsley was jailed for eight years and three months after being branded a “dangerous” offender. He will be on extended licence of four years after his release from prison. He was given a 15-year restraining order.
As he left the dock to be taken down to the cells, Hunsley said loudly: “F***ing joke.”