Three brothers jailed for ‘disgraceful’ revenge attack in victim’s backyard
Three brothers who burst into a house to carry out a revenge attack have been jailed at Lincoln Crown Court. Twins Connor and Ashton Upton together with their older brother Jamie went to their victim’s home in Trinity Street, Gainsborough, aiming to carry out retribution on the occupier Daniel Ayris. Andrew Scott, prosecuting, said that…
Left to right: Jamie, Connor and Ashton Upton have all been jailed
Three brothers who burst into a house to carry out a revenge attack have been jailed at Lincoln Crown Court.
Twins Connor and Ashton Upton together with their older brother Jamie went to their victim’s home in Trinity Street, Gainsborough, aiming to carry out retribution on the occupier Daniel Ayris.
Andrew Scott, prosecuting, said that Connor and Jamie Upton ran through the backyard into the house and attacked Mr Ayris.
Connor Upton grabbed the victim in a bear hug and took him to the ground.
Jamie Upton then produced an iron bar from inside his jacket and began swinging it into the face of Mr Ayris as Connor held down their victim.
Mr Ayris attempted to escape but was pulled back and moments later Ashton Upton arrived to join in the attack.
Mr Ayris was then rugby-tackled and forced onto the sofa where he was struck with an ash tray and then with a television set.
He was also punched to the head and eventually blacked out.
His next memory was of being taken to hospital in a police vehicle.
The attack was broken up by the Upton’s sister when she arrived at the house and told them “That’s enough boys.”
Mr Scott said “Daniel Ayris believed that if the males had not been stopped from attacking him he would have been killed or seriously injured.
“It was a sustained assault that involved not only kicking and punching but the use of a weapon. It was a sustained attack where the intention was to cause more serious injury than was actually inflicted.”
Mr Ayris received hospital treatment for cuts to his head. He also received swelling and bruising to his face.
Ashton Upton later told police: “I enjoyed it but I shouldn’t have done. I could have killed him. I can’t stop myself. I always did enjoy fighting.”
Mr Scott said that earlier the same day Mr Ayris was involved in an incident in which he swung a punch at Connor Upton fearing he was about to be attacked.
Jamie Upton, 22, of Baines Road, Gainsborough; Connor Upton, 19, of Clinton Terrace, Gainsborough; and Ashton Upton, 19, of Aegir Close, Gainsborough; each admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm as a result of the incident on December 30, 2016.
Jamie Upton also admitted possession of an offensive weapon and was jailed for two years.
Connor Upton and Ashton Upton were each sent to a young offenders’ institution for 20 months.
All three brothers were given a restraining order which bans them from contacting Mr Ayris for five years.
Judge John Pini QC, passing sentence, told them “What happened should never have happened. The three of you took the law into your own hands and exacted retribution against Daniel Ayris. You engaged in an utterly disgraceful sustained assault on a defenceless person.”
David Eager, for Jamie Upton, said he believed his brother had been assaulted and acted on the spur of the moment.
He added: “He is not a feckless young man. He is actually a responsible man. He has held down numerous jobs – all on minimum wage and all on zero hours contracts.
Sunil Khanna, for Connor Upton, said his client regretted what happened and knew that it was wrong.
He said that Connor Upton reacted as he believed he had been the victim of an unprovoked assault.
John McNally, for Ashton Upton, said he was not involved initially but went to the house after being called by his brother.
“When he arrived he saw his brother and weighed in with blows which he shouldn’t have done. He later explained his role with some significant candour.”
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Phase two of the works at Speakers’ Corner in Lincoln is well underway and expected to finish on schedule this summer.
Phase two, which began on Monday, January 11, will see existing paving upgraded, as well as new street furniture being installed.
It will follow the first phase which was completed and open to the public on December 22, with a new bench put in place around the existing London Plane tree, instead of the demolished kiosk.
Speakers Corner bench is in place, but closed off until phase two paving works are finished. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Site setup for phase two is complete, with workers on site currently digging out the existing hard paving standings at the Cornhill.
A large portion of the area has been fenced off while work takes place, leaving just two pedestrian strips on either side to access both the High Street and the Cornhill Quarter.
There is limited access in the area while works take place. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Despite the cold and wet weather throughout January, progress of the paving removal has not been affected.
This means that phase two works are still on course to be finished in summer this year.
It is hoped that once the area is completed, the walkways will blend in with those at Exchange Square, as well as utilising the space for events.
A look at how the finished development will look. | Illustration: City of Lincoln Council
Bin collections in Boston and in parts of East Lindsey will be suspended for the rest of the week due to COVID-related staff absences.
The collections will be suspended from Wednesday, January 27 as a number of East Lindsey District Council’s and Boston Borough Council’s waste crews either have coronavirus or are self-isolating.
Boston Borough Council and East Lindsey District Council said it is not a decision that has been taken lightly and it is necessary for the service to be suspended in some southern parts of the district until Monday, February 1.
From Monday, waste collections are expected to continue as normal.
Households impacted by the disruption can present any accumulated side waste in black refuse sacks alongside their black bins on their next scheduled bin collection.
The following areas are affected:
Boston
Friskney
Eastville
New Leake
Stickford
Coningsby (part)
Coningsby Moorside
Dalderby
Haltham
Mareham Le Fen
Moorby
N Bolingbroke
Revesby
Scrivelsby
Tumby
Tumby Moorside
Tumby Woodside
Wilksby
Wood Enderby
Carrington
Dogdyke
Frithville
Gypsey Bridge
New Bolingbroke
New York
Scrub Hill
Thornton Le Fen
Westville
Antons Gowt
Cowbridge
Fishtoft
Frithville
Langrick
Sibsey
East Keal
East Kirkby
Hagnaby
Keal Coates
Midville
Stickney
Toynton All Saints
West Keal
Victoria Burgess, Assistant Director for Operations at the council, said: “Over the past couple of days it has proved a real challenge to keep the service going with a number of rounds having not been completed due to staff absences.
“With more crews off again today we needed to take action now and suspending the service is the only realistic option available to us to keep everyone safe – something we’ve worked hard to avoid.
“Our workforce has done an amazing job over the past year and they’ve received much praise from the community and are grateful for your continued good wishes.”
Meanwhile, Lincolnshire County Council has agreed to extend their open days at the Household Recycling Centre on Bittern Way for the disposal of black-bagged general waste and recycling only.
The two extra days of opening are Wednesday and Thursday of this week and next, between the hours of 8am and 4pm.
Over 6,000 people living in and around the Scunthorpe have signed up to donate convalescent plasma after having coronavirus.
This comes as NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is appealing for more potential plasma donors ahead of an upcoming third trial.
Convalescent plasma is the antibody-rich plasma of people who’ve had coronavirus. This can be transfused into people who are struggling to develop their own immune response.
NHSBT wants more people in the area hitting the 28-day recovery mark to sign up.
Over 30 donations have so far been taken at the Scunthorpe donor centre at Berkeley House at Berkeley Business Centre on Doncaster Road, which opened in December last year.
People can register to donate online here and can donate 28 days after they’ve recovered from coronavirus.
The Lincolnshire centre is located at Berkeley House at Berkeley Business Centre on Doncaster Road in Scunthorpe. | Photo: NHSBT
NHSBT is collecting the plasma for new trials for older people or those with cancer to treat them early in the course of the infection.
Two earlier trials have now stopped for data analysis. The upcoming third trial’s focus will be on those with low immune systems and all donations are tested for COVID antibodies.
The NHS trials of convalescent plasma are the largest randomised controlled trials for this treatment of COVID-19.
Professor Dave Roberts, Associate Medical Director for Blood Donation at NHSBT, said: “More people than ever are now able to help – the time to donate is now.
“We especially need donations from people in Scunthorpe who’ve had hospital care. Men who had hospital care are around six times more likely to have the high antibody levels which might save lives.
“We have completed two trials and analysis is ongoing. We now need to collect plasma for further planned clinical studies. We’re particularly looking at high risk groups such as the elderly and people with cancer.
“Donations are vital to the ongoing lifesaving research, which gives us a better understanding of how we can best treat patients with COVID-19 and help prevent deaths in the future.”