Thug loses appeal against sentence and is told to spend MORE time behind bars
A man from Cannock who was jailed for his part in a drink and drug-fuelled rampage - in which one man had his jaw and eye socket broken - has lost an appeal against his sentence.
And in punishment for bringing his hopeless appeal, Alan John Clifton, 25, of Brunswick Road, saw his 10-year term effectively increased by top judges in London.
Clifton was jailed at Stafford Crown Court in April after he was convicted of robbery and intentional GBH. He had admitted affray and having an offensive weapon.
Upholding the sentence yesterday, three judges said eight weeks already served in prison would not count towards the term.
Mr Justice Lewis said: "Given the nature of this offending, a sentence of 10 years is well within the range, particularly given the very serious injuries caused by the offence of GBH.
"Furthermore, the recorder reflected the mitigating factors by making the sentences for the other offences concurrent and not consecutive.
"We consider that the sentence imposed by the recorder was entirely justified."
The Court of Appeal heard Clifton was out in Cannock with 20-year-old friend Callum Craig Smallman on the night of June 28 last year.
After drinking in the town, they moved on in Smallman's work van to the Shrew pub, in Rugeley town centre.
Having left there, they came across Jason Howmans, who was on his way home from a night out in the Vine pub.
Mr Howmans was then subjected to a brutal attack in which his jaw was broken in four places and his eye socket also damaged.
When they had finished, Clifton and Smallman robbed their victim, taking his headphones and mobile phone.
They were 'still looking for trouble' a few hours later when they came upon a group of three men, said Mr Justice Lewis. They got out of the van and went for the trio, Clifton armed with a piece of piping and Smallman with a claw hammer.
One of the men was struck with a hammer, one knocked to the ground and the third hit in the face, causing damage to his eye.
The pair were arrested at a Tesco store in Hednesford. Smallman ultimately got nine years for his part in the violence.
On appeal, lawyers for Clifton argued that his sentence was too long, particularly given his previous good character.
He had always been in employment and was determined to work hard until his release, the judges were told.
But Mr Justice Lewis, Lord Justice Laws and Mr Justice Openshaw rejected the appeal.
"Given the criminal conduct he engaged in on that night, a sentence of 10 years is richly deserved," said Mr Justice Lewis.
"Furthermore, we order that 56 days spent in custody shouldn't count towards that sentence."
Ordering that eight weeks do not count towards a sentence is the equivalent of adding four months to a term.
