by Keith Hunt

A “macho” thug who meted out violence in two separate incidents has been jailed for four-and-half years.

Tony Atherton launched a vicious attack on a taxi driver and fractured another man’s cheekbone and eye socket.

A judge told the 26-year-old he had behaved in a “wholly criminal and revolting way”.

Atherton, of Bond Road, Parkwood, Gillingham, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm, assault causing actual bodily harm, affray and burglary.

Maidstone Crown Court heard cabbie Mohammed Hossain was working a night shift on September 13 last year and was asked to pick up a final fare from a Maidstone club.

He was flagged down by two men and two women, one of whom was Atherton. Mr Hossain asked for the £35 fare to be paid up front.

Dickon Reid, prosecuting, said Atherton hurled racist abuse at Mr Hossain, made comments about terrorism and kept hitting him on the back of the neck.

The victim eventually had enough and asked the passengers to get out of the cab. He told them they could have their money back.

As Mr Hossain was getting back in, Atherton punched him on the side of the face, sending him spinning. One of the women joined in.

Continuing with a flurry of blows, Atherton threatened: “You don’t know who you are dealing with. I am going to kill you.”

Mr Hossain passed out and came round to find the emergency services there.

The second attack happened in the street on November 23 last year, while Atherton was on bail.

Victim Paul Chambers was with friends at an off licence when Atherton started an argument.

He eventually lashed out at Mr Chambers, knocking him to the ground. He also picked up rocks and threw them at Joseph Webb.

He tried to stop Atherton and suffered a fractured wrist.

Mr Reid said Atherton also burgled a house at The Orchard in Rainham. He ransacked the home and stole property worth £850.

His fingerprints were found on binliners left at the scene.
Atherton had 29 convictions for 62 offences including violence.

Judge Jeremy Carey said Atherton subjected Mr Hossain to gratuitous violence.

He had since suffered nightmares and felt vulnerable when out at night.

“You were no doubt buoyed up by the presence of others in the vehicle when you were showing how macho you were and that you could do pretty much anything you liked with this man,” he said.

“What ever is said about your low intelligence, I hope you have the wit to realise now in your sober state how disgusting your behaviour was.”

The judge said Atherton was with others in the second incident when he again showed his macho character.

“I saw you on CCTV,” he said. “You were plainly the worse for drink and plainly determined to show how tough you could be.”

It was “all too typical violence”.

Judge Carey told Atherton: “There is nothing that can be said in your favour. You have a bad record. This is bad violence.

“Since you have been in prison, you have dried out. You have behaved in marked contrast. This because you have a degree of structure to your life.

“Whether you have the presence and backbone to maintain that when let out of prison, I simply don’t know. Statistically, the odds are against it.”

The judge added: “You only have yourself to blame for the level of sentence for this serious offending.”