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Damien Catchpole, from Ramsgate, jailed for stabbing man in face and breaking his ribs in attack

A hooligan who smashed five of his victim’s ribs in a "frenzied" attack with golf clubs before stabbing him in the face multiple times has been handed an extended prison sentence after being deemed "dangerous".

Damien Catchpole, 44, exploded into “vicious and brutal” violence inside Michael Griffin’s Ramsgate home after neighbour Tania Vella, 53, stamped on the victim's face.

Damien Catchpole outside Canterbury Crown Court Picture: Barry Goodwin
Damien Catchpole outside Canterbury Crown Court Picture: Barry Goodwin

One witness heard Catchpole announce he was "going to play golf,” before setting about Mr Griffin with his clubs in June last year.

Catchpole was convicted of wounding with intent and Vella, of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, following a unanimous verdict at Canterbury Crown Court in February.

Alongside fractured ribs, Mr Griffin suffered multiple lacerations to his head and face, including one stab wound to his face which was so severe, the exit wound came out of his chin.

The three neighbours and others had been drinking alcohol in Vella’s flat when Mr Griffin left to go back to his property nearby.

Vella had asked him to leave after a row and later knocked on Mr Griffin’s front door because she thought he had her dog, before punching him twice in the face, then slamming his head into a wall, CCTV showed.

The knife used in the attack
The knife used in the attack

After Mr Griffin’s head hit the floor he became unresponsive, before Vella delivered two kicks, stamped on his thigh, then disappeared off screen.

But she returned into view seconds later and stamped on Mr Griffin’s face, rendering him on his back in a pool of blood, jurors saw.

Prosecutor Steven Attridge had told the court in February: “Anyone who stamps on someone’s face on the floor has the intent to cause really serious injury.”

After regaining consciousness, Mr Griffin managed to crawl inside his front door, CCTV evidence showed.

It was then Catchpole appeared in the corridor and pursued Mr Griffin into the property to deliver a “vicious, brutal, sustained attack upon a vulnerable individual,” Mr Attridge continued.

“It was an attack which started outside the front door of Mr Griffin’s home, that attack continued inside Mr Griffin’s home.

“Not only were both individuals involved but Mr Griffin was attacked with weapons.

“There is evidence golf clubs were used to beat him with and a knife was used to cause injury to his face,” Mr Attridge continued.

During the attack, one witness heard Catchpole say “he is going to play golf,” the court heard.

One of the golf clubs used in the attack
One of the golf clubs used in the attack

Mr Griffin suffered multiple lacerations to his face, cuts to his head and knee, a tear to his left kidney and five broken ribs.

He was also left with a permanent three-inch scar across his face.

And he had no recollection of how he wound up at the QEQM Hospital, where he would be treated for 10 days, the court heard.

He has since had to move from the area and still has problems sleeping because of the incident.

A victim impact statement read out to the court heard Mr Griffin is continually reminded of the incident because every time he looks in the mirror he can see his scar.

Tania Vella was jailed for 54 months. Picture: Kent Police
Tania Vella was jailed for 54 months. Picture: Kent Police

He said: "I am still jumpy and every time I look in the mirror I see the three inch scar on my cheek.

"I worry that people will pre-judge me and think I am a troublemaker rather than an innocent victim."

Police later discovered two of Mr Griffin’s golf clubs carrying DNA evidence, with one inside his home and another inside Vella’s flat.

Jurors acquitted Vella of wounding with intent for the alleged role she played during Catchpole's attack inside the flat, but found her guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent following the attack on him in the corridor outside his property.

Vella, of Trove Court in Newcastle Hill, was later jailed for 54 months for her part in the attacks.

Damien Catchpole was jailed for eight years and must serve four on licence (58707235)
Damien Catchpole was jailed for eight years and must serve four on licence (58707235)

Catchpole, also of Trove Court was sentenced today at the came court and will serve eight years behind bars and a further four on licence because of his dangerousness.

Judge Catherine Brown was told he had four previous convictions for six offences, including two convictions for affray.

She said: "It was an appalling attack on a vulnerable man who was drunk when he was attacked and he was really badly injured.

"You used weapons and a gold club and you are very lucky you did not kill him.

"I am in no doubt it was a frenzied attack using multiple weapons and you are dangerous and there is a significant risk to the public.

"You will not be released from your sentence unless it is deemed safe to do so and you will be on an extended licence thereafter."

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