Cambridge man hit victim with claw hammer in ‘vicious and unprovoked attack’
A man has been sentenced for attacking his ex-girlfriend’s former partner with a hammer in a “vicious and unprovoked attack”.
Aaron Spencer, 33, of Kings Hedges Road, Cambridge, had been trying to find the man and spotted him at the One Stop shop, in Melbourn, on the afternoon of 24 March 2022.
Getting off his moped, Spencer lay in wait outside the store sitting on a nearby bench until the victim came out. Wearing his crash helmet and brandishing the claw hammer, Spencer approached the victim.
The man tried to escape but Spencer cut him off and began attacking him with the hammer, hitting him on the head several times. The victim fought back and tackled Spencer, who continued to hit his back and head with the hammer.
A passer-by managed to grab the hammer from Spencer who rode off on his moped. Members of the public, including a nurse who was driving past at the time, went to the victim’s aid and began treating his injuries.
He was taken to hospital with eye injuries and head wounds described as ‘consistent with being hit with a hammer’ and requiring stitches. The victim also suffered bruising and swelling in the shape of the hammer head on his torso and further bruising to his shoulder.
Having previously pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, Spencer was jailed at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday (20 March) to six years imprisonment with an extended licence period of four years.
This means that once a parole board has determined Spencer can be released from prison, he will spend the following four years of his sentence being monitored within the community. Without the extended sentencing period he would be released from prison with no conditions.
Det Con Sarah Knights said: “This was a vicious and unprovoked attack which has left an innocent man with permanent scarring. It is fortunate the outcome was not worse than it was. I hope the victim can now move forward with his life.”
