Well done that man!

[KevM]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-sout ... s-25856722

The court heard Andrew Woodhouse acted in 'lawful self defence'
A gardener has been cleared of causing grievous bodily harm to thieves he caught red-handed raiding his business.

Andrew Woodhouse, 44, from Govilon, Monmouthshire, beat one so badly he suffered two broken legs and a broken arm.

He then sat on burglars Kevin Green and Timothy Cross until the police arrived, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

Mr Woodhouse's firm had repeatedly been targeted by thieves. Green and Cross were later fined £75 each for theft.

The court heard how the gardener was woken at about 00:30 GMT one day in March 2013 by a text message telling him a burglar alarm had gone off at the tyre yard where his business is based a mile from his home.

 

[MMUK]

At last! some common sense in the courts. although I suspect it may have been different if he had used a weapon.

 

[Sheptonphil]

Common sense prevails.

We need more jury verdicts like this to send the message to criminals that they risk more than a slap on the wrist.

Phil

 

[riclepp]

The problem is that if they appeal as to being an unfair result, they will most likely get off. I do think the beating was sufficient...they should have got time as then they would not be free to rob someone else.

 

[KevM]

The problem is that if they appeal as to being an unfair result, they will most likely get off. I do think the beating was sufficient...they should have got time as then they would not be free to rob someone else.

Well be fair, they did get a £75 fine, each...

 

[RogerP]

The problem is that if they appeal as to being an unfair result, they will most likely get off. I do think the beating was sufficient...they should have got time as then they would not be free to rob someone else.

Well be fair, they did get a £75 fine, each...

... not much more than half the penalty for the terrible crime of using a London bus lane (£130), or parking tickets in some boroughs (£110) It's called justice. :roll:

 

[RogerS]

The police and CPS should never have taken him to court in the first place.

The £75 fine is derisory.

 

[stevenw1963]

If I read this right, this gentleman took on 3 of the scum and HE got taken to court, astounding, he should have kicked the **** out the other 2 as well!!!

 

[M P Hales]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-25856722

The court heard Andrew Woodhouse acted in 'lawful self defence'
A gardener has been cleared of causing grievous bodily harm to thieves he caught red-handed raiding his business.

Andrew Woodhouse, 44, from Govilon, Monmouthshire, beat one so badly he suffered two broken legs and a broken arm.

He's not trying hard enough - Only the one broken arm :shock:

M

 

[MARK.B.]

Personally i think they should have had there hands hacked off in public ,they are nothing more than scum. The very least they should get is forced sterilization so they cannot breed another generation of scum.

Rant over - feel better for that,apologies to any that take offence.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Well I shouted Hooray at the wireless.
He should be awarded a medal, not taken to court. The jury obviously had a lot more common sense than the rest of the legal system.
I've never done Jury Service, but if I had, I would point blank refuse to send such a person to prison. We need more people like him in society, not fewer. What were the CPS thinking?
S

 

[MMUK]

Personally i think they should have had there hands hacked off in public ,they are nothing more than scum. The very least they should get is forced sterilization so they cannot breed another generation of scum.

Rant over - feel better for that,apologies to any that take offence.

I agree 100% :!:

I have plenty of spare bricks we could use for sterilisation :mrgreen:

 

[tool-me-up]

Eastern countries would see a gang of business owners beat all three to a pulp, then smash both hands to pancakes with big rocks.
They will even do this in broad daylight to shoplifters etc and no - one bats an eyelid - because you shouldnt be stealing!

He shouldnt have even had to go to court - just give a statement as to why he beat them on his own property in the middle of the night......

 

[finneyb]

If Woodhouse had been convicted you can bet that they would have pursued a civil claim for damages and probably won it.

Brian

 

[david123]

nice one. I just love it when a plan comes together (hammer)

 

[Steve Maskery]

I've just been relating this tale to the heating engineer who has been working here today.
He told me of a mate of a mate who had done time in prison and found a scrote breaking into his shed. He beat him up, wrapped him in barbed wire and locked him in the shed for 4 days. When he let him go he told him to tell all his thieving mates.
Strangely, he's not been bothered since.
S

 

[wellywood]

Well I shouted Hooray at the wireless.
He should be awarded a medal, not taken to court. The jury obviously had a lot more common sense than the rest of the legal system.
I've never done Jury Service, but if I had, I would point blank refuse to send such a person to prison. We need more people like him in society, not fewer. What were the CPS thinking?
S

The scary thing is they are talking about doing away with the jury system - at least here in NZ. That's something that needs to be fought against if we are to retain any sort of impartiality in the justice system. The alternative is some judge or magistrate simply handing out a sentence from the rule book. I know that juries sometimes bring in strange verdicts but I think that's a reflection of their opinon on the quality of the evidence put forward. That can be very iffy at times. How many cases have there been of injustice where later evidence overturns a conviction? I know we have had at least one here in the last year.

Was a time when jury service was seen as a civic duty - now it's largely considered to be a pain in the proverbial. A sad reflection on today's lack of public concern.

 

[RogerS]

The most interesting aspect of this case, I think, is the speed with which the jury returned their verdict...25 minutes. Guess there weren't any 'Jacobs' on the jury :wink: 8)