Victim sought hospital treatment after attack

A SEVENOAKS thug has avoided jail despite a vicious attack on a young stranger.

James Abnett punched and headbutted Kevin Franklin at Bat and Ball station in the unprovoked attack.

He also appeared at court to be sentenced for not showing up twice to community work.

Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court heard the 19-year-old, of Botsom Lane, West Kingsdown, had been at Bat and Ball Station on April 12 at 5pm with a friend.

His train was running late, so Abnett asked a man waiting on the platform for the time.

The court heard how after Kevin Franklin got out his mobile phone to tell him the time, Abnett proceeded to head-butt and punch him in the face.

Abnett had shouted: “Give me back my phone, you’ve got my phone”.

He said he was “very drunk” at the time and punched Mr Franklin “a number of times”.

When the train arrived, Mr Franklin tried to board, but was held back by Abnett.

A member of public managed to pin Abnett against the wall, and the victim got on the train. He later needed hospital treatment for minor head injuries and a cut lip.

“It was an entirely unprovoked attack and not what you would expect on your way home from work,” said Mr Franklin in a statement to police.

When police came to arrest Abnett he struggled and even tried to bite them.

The court heard Abnett had had since been completed courses to further his work possibilities. He had also become involved with the church at Otford.

Abnett had admitted a charge of assault by beating at a previous hearing. On Friday magistrates ordered Abnett to pay £100 compensation to his victim but did not order him to pay prosecution costs as he has accumulated more than £1,100 in fines for previous convictions.

He was also given a new community order with 12 months’ supervision, a six month alcohol treatment requirement and was ordered to do 80 hours’ community work.