Man jailed for 'repugnant' attack on homeless people sleeping in tent in shop doorway

'This wasn’t a joke. This wasn’t a bit of fun. This was a serious assault that has resulted in two men being sent to prison'

A man who jumped feet first onto a tent with two homeless people sleeping inside has been jailed.

Jamie Nickell, 26, was caught on CCTV as he took a run-up before launching himself at the makeshift shelter in a shop doorway in Hull, East Yorkshire.

His friend Jake Mann, 29, filmed the attack on his mobile phone in the early hours of 30 November. Laughing, the pair then walked off.

One of the defendants was heard shouting “you dirty, scumbag, trampy b******s” during the incident.

Hull Crown Court heard how the two men were visiting the city for a concert and had been drinking in the lead up to the assault.

The attack resulted in one of the homeless men, Steve Cadman, suffering a minor injury to his knee.

Sentencing the two men, Judge Mark Bury described the attack as “repugnant”.

Nickell, from Lincoln, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and was sentenced to four months in prison at Hull Crown Court on Friday.

Jake Mann laughed as he filmed the attack on the tent where two homeless men were sleeping. (SWNS)

Mann, also of Lincoln, was jailed for 14 weeks for his part in the attack earlier this week.

Hull Central Neighbourhoods Inspector Julian Hart said after the hearing: “We do not put up with this type of antisocial and violent behaviour in Hull.

“This was a reckless and thoughtless act that took place after the pair had been drinking which could have resulted in much more serious injuries. I’m very glad it didn’t and fortunately the two men in the tent were not seriously hurt.

“This wasn’t a joke. This wasn’t a bit of fun. This was a serious assault that has resulted in two men being sent to prison.”