Pair jailed for vicious assault

11:07am Tuesday 13th May 2008

COTSWOLD brothers Paul and Matthew Wilson have been jailed for a "highly violent and totally unjustifiable" assault on a man in front of his family in Lechlade last year.

Paul Wilson, 27, of St John's Caravan Park in Lechlade, and Matthew Wilson, 25, of Sopwith Road, Upper Rissington, both admitted affray on September 22 last year outside the Riverside Pub in Lechlade.

Paul Wilson also admitted assault causing actual bodily harm on Andrew Davies.

The brothers had been at a family celebration and decided to carry on drinking at the Riverside Pub, Gloucester Crown Court heard on Monday.

Prosecutor Julian Kesner said Matthew Wilson was already so drunk that he was vomiting at the table when the victim's partner asked him to find a bathroom.

The fight that ensued resulted in Mr Davis being lifted up by Paul Wilson.

Mr Davis then fell back and hit his head on the edge of a table and while he was on the ground, he was hit, Mr Kesner said.

The Wilsons left the pub but returned later with snooker cues and bar staff Emily Johnson described to police how children were crying and chairs were flying.

Defending the pair, Emily Durston said: "Paul Wilson picked up the pool cue, snapped it in half and gave one half to Matthew Wilson,but he picked up the pool cue to defend himself not to cause injury."

She said the Wilsons were sincerely remorseful.

Since the Standard covered the event Paul Wilson's ex-girlfriend had sought him out and the two married in March.

She is now 20 weeks pregnant.

Matthew Wilson is a career driver whose life has also got back on track.

Judge Martin Picton said those involved now had long-term physical and emotional problems because of the events of that evening.

He said: "To go charging back into that pub armed and intent on violence is inexcusable.

"By going into custody you both lose a lot but what you did was extremely violent and totally unjustified."

Paul Wilson was sentenced to 18 months in jail and Matthew Wilson was Sentenced to 12 months in jail.

Both were ordered to serve half of these sentences in custody before being eligible for release on licence.

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