Screams of ‘come on large b****cks’ as thug soaked in petrol throughout caravan park hammer brawl
A thug was soaked in petrol after brandishing a hammer at another man following a noise dispute at a caravan park. Kevin Tucker left his victim nursing a broken shoulder, having taken umbrage with the loud music he was playing in his car.
Another resident of the site, Barry Parkes, then confronted the assailant about the attack, with the grandfather repeatedly swinging a hammer towards him but thankfully missing. This prompted the initial attacker to grab a canister of fuel and douse the “vigilante” neighbour in it, with cries of “come on then big b****cks” echoing as terrified children looked on.
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Wednesday that Alan Crosby was playing music in his car outside his home on Halewood Caravan Park around midday on March 16 last year. This led to Tucker, the son of the residents of a neighbouring caravan, approaching the vehicle along with his 80 year old father, resulting in a verbal spat before the defendant struck the complainant in the face.
Harvey Appleby, prosecuting, detailed how the 49-year-old continued to grapple with his victim next to the car, with Mr Crosby being dragged to the ground and further punched before the fracas was broken up by the occupant of another caravan. He suffered a fracture to his left shoulder as a result of the assault, in addition to several cuts and bruises.
After Tucker, from Alexandra Drive in Aigburth, had subsequently retreated to his parents’ caravan, Parkes, described as an associate of Mr Crosby’s, grabbed a hammer and made his way towards the static mobile home to challenge him about what had happened. The latter then retrieved a petrol can from the back of his own car before his co-accused started swinging the tool at him, reports the Liverpool Echo.
However, Parkes, from Halewood Caravan Park, failed to strike despite launching multiple attempts. Tucker then retaliated by dousing his adversary with the fuel across six separate occasions.
Fifty-nine year old Parkes possesses 17 prior convictions covering 31 offences. His most recent court appearance was in 2019 for assault and threatening behaviour with an offensive weapon, which was also reportedly a hammer.
Olivia Belle, representing him, revealed her client had obtained 11 character testimonials from residents and acquaintances before the proceedings, stating: “The defendant does not seek to minimise his actions. The defendant has rewatched the footage himself today. He accepts that he equipped himself with a hammer and swung and brandished that hammer prior to petrol being thrown on him.
“This is clearly a defendant who intervened. His actions cannot be justified, but it provides context as to why he resorted to such extreme measures. He deeply regrets his actions, most importantly because he was with his son. That is not an example he wishes to set.
“This is a man with caring responsibilities. He is a devoted father to four children. He has two grandchildren, who he also sees. In my submission, it is his children who would bear the burden of any incarceration. This is a man with mental health and physical health issues. He has stayed out of trouble for a long period of time.”
Tucker has no prior convictions but did receive a caution for a public order offence in 2007 which was said to have related to a neighbour dispute. His barrister Rebecca Smith told the court: “Your honour reads the difficulties he will have had in a situation that presented itself as it did.
“Your honour can hear the noise that comes from the vehicle of Mr Crosby. It is a noise which Mr Tucker says has been a repetitive behaviour trait. It does not provide an excuse, but it gives some level of background to what the court can appreciate was a difficult situation, particularly for someone in Mr Tucker’s position.
“He has caring responsibilities. He feels a heavy responsibility that, for whatever period of time his parents have left, he provides them with a safe and caring environment.”
Tucker pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm without intent, affray and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. Dressed smartly in the dock, he received a 10-month suspended sentence for a year, with a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 25 days, a 12-month mental health treatment requirement and a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting Mr Crosby for five years.
Parkes admitted to affray and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. He was handed a 16-week suspended sentence for a year, along with a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a 12-month mental health treatment requirement.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Gary Woodhall said: “[Mr Crosby] was playing music when you, Kevin Tucker, and indeed your father, shouted at him about turning his radio down. You threatened to hit him. You squared up to him. He fought back, pushing you away, then you started to punch him. You dragged him to floor. You then continued to punch him.
“You and your father began to walk away. You, Barry Parkes, however, having been notified about what had happened, and seeking to protect Mr Crosby, confronted the Tuckers. You picked up a hammer and followed them back to the driveway. There was shouting, such as ‘come on then big b****cks’.
“You, Kevin Tucker, removed a can of petrol from the boot of your vehicle. This confrontation then continued, with you, Barry Parkes, swinging the hammer about and you, Kevin Tucker, throwing petrol over Mr Parkes, all of that occurring in the presence of others, including a child, all in proximity of those weapons being used.”
Addressing Parkes, Judge Woodhall added: “You were acting as a vigilante, which only raised the heat and led to further violence and more people being exposed to what was happening. I bear in mind your health problems. You suffered a stroke, with ongoing cardiovascular problems. References, and there are a lot of them, speak in positive terms about you and your interactions with others.”
However, with custodial sentences of a year or less now generally leading to suspension under new laws, barring exceptional circumstances, the judge stated: “Given the date of your convictions and the length of sentences which I have settled on, I must suspend the sentences of imprisonment unless any of the exemptions apply. I am not convinced that any of the exemptions apply.
“There is, in each of your cases, a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. The risk that you pose can be managed in the community. There is significant personal mitigation.”
