Retford: Man jailed after ‘traumatising’ assault on autistic teenager

Lee Snell, 41, of East Drayton, Retford, pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault at Mansfield Magistrates’ Court on Monday 1st June.

The court heard how Snell assaulted the victims in an altercation last September before being arrested.

Robert Carr, prosecuting, told the court how Snell grabbed both victims by their throats and stamped on the leg of the teeange boy, who suffers from autism.

David Verity, Snell’s defence solicitor, said that Snell had severe mental health problems and had ‘threatened to commit suicide’ if he was given a custodial sentence by magistrates.

District Judge Diane Baker said: “This was an unprovoked attack on two people, one of whom was an autistic thirteen-year-old child who was left injured and seriously traumatised by the assault.”

Snell was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison and a given a 10 year restraining order which prevents him from contacting either of the two victims.

He was also ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge.