A "MENACE to residents" with a shocking criminal record has been jailed.
Michael Oultram was jailed for a year - but his two co-defendants were spared prison, one of them being called "a fool" - and to be treated as such - by his own lawyer.
Judge John Rogers QC was sitting at Chester Crown Court to sentence 21-year-old Oultram, from Earlsway, 20-year-old Craig Mathers, and 18-year-old Lee Steff - who was said to have breached his anti-social behaviour order just two weeks after it was made - both of separate addresses in Kenilworth Close.
John Loveday, prosecuting, told Judge Rogers that Oultram, Steff and Mathers were involved in an incident with a man who was due to be a prosecution witness in a case involving some of their friends.
Mr Loveday said: "A week before the case William Pickford was walking home and was confronted by a large group which included the three defendants.
"They blocked his path and Mathers and Oultram took hold of him by his arms and all three defendants shouted at him in a threatening and intimidating manner."
Mr Justice Rogers said: "It must have been for Mr Pickford a terrifying experience."
The judge was told when no evidence was given for charges of intimidating witnesses Oultram was charged instead with affray, Steff with threatening behaviour and Mathers with affray.
Mr Loveday told the court Oultram had also admitted two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The judge heard the first assault was on Simon Ainsworth after an argument between him, Oultram, Oultram's sister and another man.
Mr Loveday said: "Mr Ainsworth was not aware of what happened next but he found himself with pain to the head."
The court heard Oultram had hurled an 18in car jack at the back of his head, which knocked the victim to the ground and caused a 3in cut which needed hospital treatment.
Mr Loveday said the second incident involved Martin White, who was walking with friends when a car approached him.
He said: "Oultram got out of the front passenger seat and approached Mr White and said 'You are Martin, aren't you?'
"Before he had chance to reply he punched him in the face with his right hand. He ran off and was chased by the defendant."
David Morton, defending Oultram, said: "He's just 21 years of age. His behaviour has been despicable and his record is shocking."
Mr Justice Rogers told Oultram: "You are considered a menace to the people in the area where you reside."
Oultram was sentenced to nine months in prison for each assault and three months for the affray, all to run consecutively.
Lee Steff was also charged with theft and breaching an anti-social behaviour order just two weeks after the punishment was imposed.
Mr Lovelady told the court Steff had stolen a bottle of cola from the Late Shop in Ivy Road.
"He stated that he was unaware of restrictions placed on him by the ASBO because he had left the document at work," said Mr Lovelady.
The judge said: "Within 13 days he was just ignoring the order made by the magistrates - he was not only ignoring it but ignoring it in order to steal."
Gareth Roberts, defending Steff, said: "Custody is an experience that he has found extremely unpleasant. He accepts it's an experience he has brought upon himself."
The court heard Steff had recently lost two grandparents and had only found out his grandmother had died the previous day.
Because Steff had already spent six weeks in custody the judge sentenced him to a 200 hours community punishment order.
Nick Walker, defending Mathers, said: "When the ASBO was imposed the district judge told this defendant to grow up. It's my submission that he has done.
"The eyes of the community are very much on him and will be for a number of years."
"His parents have stuck by him. They have said he's an absolute fool. No-one would disagree with that, not least the defendant. I ask for him to be treated as a fool. He is entitled to a second chance."
Judge Rogers fined Mathers £800 and said: "He comes from a very good family background. He's a young man of promise."
