Heroin user jailed for 12 years after leaving elderly man with brain injury in unprovoked attack

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Philip Kelly, 37, was living in Gateford Road in Worksop at the time of the offence

A heroin user who left a 79-year-old man with a traumatic brain injury in an unprovoked attack has been jailed for 12 years.

Philip Kelly, 37, living on Gateford Road in Worksop at the time of the offence, followed the victim who was making his way home after a night out before attacking him and leaving him unconscious and bleeding heavily.

The incident happened in an alleyway near the Sea Cadets building in Gateford Road, Worksop at around 2am on December 3 2016.

Kelly was told he must serve at least two-thirds of his 12 year prison sentence at Nottingham Crown Court today (Wednesday December 13).

He will have a further five years on licence after release.

Detective Inspector Ed Cook, who led the investigation, said: “This was a vicious, unprovoked attack on a vulnerable man.

“The level of violence used towards him was despicable and it has had a massive impact on his victim, who has been left with life-altering injuries and now needs care, when previously he was a very independent man.

“Nothing will make up for what the victim has gone through but I hope he and his family can take some comfort from the severity of the sentence.”

Detective Inspector Cook described the investigation as ‘complex and protracted’.

He said: “Officers started the investigation with nothing and have painstakingly pieced together what happened on the night of the offence.

“The victim has shown great bravery by returning home after he was assaulted and remarkably made his own way to the hospital to seek medical treatment.

“He has also shown continued bravery and determination, supported by his family in his recovery and desire in prosecuting Philip Kelly.

“I hope this sends a positive message out to the public that serious violence offences will be thoroughly investigated by Nottinghamshire Police and severe sentences will be given to offenders.”

Hours after the attack on December 3 2016, Kelly went on to fraudulently use the victim’s debit card to make an online fast track purchase of a Samsung Galaxy S7 mobile phone from Argos for £629.55, which he later picked up from the branch in Bridge Street, Worksop.

He then went to Cash Generators, also on Bridge Street, and sold the phone for £280, claiming it was an unwanted Christmas gift.

Kelly also used the card to buy cigarettes from two local shops and made two unsuccessful attempts to buy an Apple iPhone.

Kelly admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent to cause serious harm and fraud.

He denied a charge of robbery but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of theft by finding in relation to the victim’s bank card.

Nottingham Crown Court was told the victim, who is now aged 80, had little recollection of the assault.

Despite being seriously injured, he went home to see if he could stop the bleeding – when he couldn’t, he then walked to Bassetlaw General Hospital.

He arrived at the hospital at 4.42am where it was discovered he had a fractured depressed skull, bleeding on the brain and a stroke.

He remained in hospital until March 28 this year and still suffers from the brain injury which has affected his speech and requires him to have regular home care.

When interviewed by police, the victim said he believed his attacker had left him to die in the alleyway.

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