'Vicious' Attacker Jailed Indefinitely

A man who viciously attacked and robbed a couple using a wooden post in Bolton has been jailed indefinitely.

Christopher Roy Fletcher, 22, of Macdonald Road, Farnworth pleaded guilty to two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent , one count of aggravated burglary and one count of causing actual bodily harm with intent to resist arrest.

He was sentenced to indeterminate imprisonment for public protection. He must serve a minimum of five years in prison before being considered for parole.

At Around 7.50pm on Sunday 25 October 2009, the victim, a 67-year-old man, was at home with his wife, a 52-year-old woman.

The man had seen Fletcher in the back garden and walked into the house to tell his wife, and he called police.

They went to the locked patio doors to look outside and saw Fletcher standing in the garden holding a piece of wood, which had a nail sticking out of the end. He used it to smash through the patio doors as the man was on the phone to the police.

The couple watched him smash through the glass with wood. They tried to reason with him, but he held up the piece of wood and began to beat the man.

As the man fell to the floor, Fletcher began to attack the woman. She pleaded with him to stop, but he continued. Fletcher did not stop until police arrived.

The man was badly beaten and suffered multiple fractures to his face as well as a large cut to his lip, further bruising and swelling. The woman suffered a large wound on her head, a broken cheekbone and heavy bruising to her face.

Fletcher demanded cash and jewellery, which the couple in fear, handed over to him, however he was not happy and continued to demand more, threatening to kill them if they did not.

Police officers then arrived and saw Fletcher in the house with the wooden post so they ran in through the smashed patio door, where they were confronted by him.

As one officer tried to rugby tackle him to the ground, Fletcher hit him across the back with the post. They both fell to the floor and began to struggle.

Fletcher managed to get away by wriggling out of his clothing and as he ran into another room, the second officer hit him on the leg with his baton.

Another officer outside forced open the front door and the injured couple were helped outside.

Fletcher then reappeared carrying a glass candlestick above his head. He was told to get back but Fletcher ran past an officer into the back garden.

He ran across the garden and into a bramble thicket. Two officers followed him into the thicket and after a violent struggle they managed to subdue him with CS spray.

Both officers suffered cuts and bruises and one received a fractured finger in the struggle.

The victims were taken to hospital for treatment.

When Fletcher was searched, cash, jewellery and a bankcard in the name of the victim were found and damage which cost thousands to repair was caused to the house during the incident.

Detective Sergeant Rob Parker of Bolton CID said: "This attack has left the couple feeling vulnerable in the place they should feel the safest and they are still trying to get over not only the physical injuries, but also the psychological effects.

"Even the arrival of the officers did not dissuade Fletcher from his attack, and in the process of trying to arrest him, they also received injuries.

"Incidents like this are incredibly unusual, but this only makes the attack more disturbing. Now Fletcher is behind bars I believe the local community is a safer place to be."

(PR/GK)