A GANG of men who beat their victim with a pool cue and a baseball bat in an attack described as “vigilante” justice have been jailed for more than 11 years in total.

Stewart Bridgman, Kyle Heald and Thomas Timmins kicked and punched David Goodeve who they had suspected had stolen from Bridgman in a “prolonged and premeditated” attack at The Globe pub in Andover on January 9, 2017.

Bridgman, of Levens Way, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, was the pub landlord at the time of the assault and was renting a room to Mr Goodeve.

Winchester Crown Court heard today that Bridgman, aged 32, believed that Mr Goodeve had stolen money and jewellery from him and his wife.

On the day of the attack he began searching for the man in bookmakers in the town centre, showing a picture of the victim to staff.

Later that night Bridgman, after Mr Goodeve had returned home from work, began to send text messages to Kyle Heald, of Wood Park, Ludgershall, discussing the planned attack.

In a series of messages read out to the court, Heald said to Bridgman: “You have got a lot to think about, if you want I can deal with him”.

Bridgman replied: “I will do it and you lot can join me and don’t worry it will be fun”, adding: “you lot can finish him off”.

Judge Keith Cutler was then told that the attack was due to take place after the pub’s closing time but Mr Goodeve planned to go out and it was brought forward.

Bridgman asked the victim for help in the function room and challenged him about his suspicions.

The court was told that Bridgman had a baseball bat in his hands before he was joined by Heald and Timmins of Turnpike Crescent, Andover, who began punching and kicking the victim.

Prosecuting Jodie Mittell said: “During the incident Mr Goodeve remembers Kyle Heald saying they should boil a kettle and show him what happens in prison.”

The victim was also hit on the knees by Bridgman with the baseball bat and struck across the back by Timmins with a pool cue.

“He Mr Bridgman told Mr Goodeve what he should say, he should say he had been jumped by some black men.”

Mrs Mittell said Heald then took the victim down to an alleyway by the pub where he was left bleeding from his eyes and was coming in and out of consciousness and later taken to Southampton General Hospital.

The court heard that Heald, aged 23, and another man Samuel Day, who has absconded from police, stole Mr Goodeve's Vauxhall Vectra after the attack and torched it in Penton Grafton – and the pair admitted to theft at an earlier hearing.

Police were led to the attackers after Lily Shepard, Bridgman’s friend, handed in a blooded towel and baseball bat placed in her car boot by Bridgman the day after the attack, but did not come forward until April as she was “terrified”.

Officers then found blood in The Globe’s function room belonging to the victim.

However, the three men did not admit to causing grievous bodily harm until the first day of their trial after a lesser charge was offered earlier this month. 

Today Judge Cutler sentenced Bridgman and Heald to three and half years each, while Timmins was handed a three year and nine-month prison term as the Globe attack was committed as he was on a suspended sentence.

In sentencing Judge Cutler said: “[This was] vigilante group action, and the courts will not accept any form of vengeance or revenge.”

Defending Bridgman, Rupert Hallows said that his client’s actions were “grossly disproportionate” and that Bridgman had “expressed remorse” and in interview with the probation service he was tearful.

And Judge Culter recognised his mitigation said Bridgman was of a “very charitable nature and he has let all of these people down”.

Barry McElduff defending Heald said that he had had a “remarkable decline in his offending history” since the attack and has “matured significantly” to the point that has gotten control of his alcohol and drug misuse and is now looking after his girlfriend’s child when she is unwell and the couple are now expecting their first baby together.

Defending Timmins, Rufus Taylor said that the 27-year-old has a “devoted family unit”, adding: “There is two Thomas Timmins, there is the nastiness of this indictment and then there is his personal qualities”.

The court heard that Timmins is a “hard worker” and provides for his family.

Judge Cutler was told that Mr Goodeve admitted to the theft from Bridgman and has already been dealt with by the courts.