Man lashed out with razor at store (From Chelmsford Weekly News)

Man lashed out with razor at store

1:41pm Wednesday 20th March 2013 in News

A JUDGE has described the decision to charge a man with common assault after he cut a security guard’s nose with a razor as “simply absurd”.

Arran Henderson was being detained by security staff at Marks & Spencer in Chelmsford when he produced a disposable razor and made a slashing movement towards the man’s face.

It resulted in Ben Preston suffering a small cut to his nose and a court also heard, on Tuesday, Henderson also bit Mr Preston’s thigh during the incident, on July 23 last year.

Henderson, 35, from Ashford, Kent, had been detained after he tried to steal £10 of food and drink.

He admitted common assault on Mr Preston, stealing the food and other charges of handling two stolen drills, the theft of two diamond rings and another shoplifting charge.

Judge David Turner QC jailed him for a total of three years.

The judge told the court he found it hard to accept Henderson was charged with common assault on Mr Preston.

“It defies belief he was only charged with common assault for this. He slashed out with a razor and cut this security guard’s face. It seems to me simply absurd,” Judge Turner said.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard the other charges related to incidents in Ashford.

Peter Barlex, mitigating, told the court Henderson’s problems stemmed from his drinking.