Violent thug jailed after breaking man’s leg – Exeter

Two men who viciously attacked a man at an Exeter station leaving him with life-changing injuries have been sentenced.

Benjamin Yeo, 28, and of Kendalls Close, Exeter, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm on Friday 4 December 2020 at Exeter Crown Court.

Steffan Brooks, 28, and of Glass House Lane, Exeter, pleaded guilty to common assault on Friday 4 December 2020 at Exeter Crown Court.

On Monday 8 March 2021, a judge sentenced Yeo to 19 months in prison. Brooks was sentenced to three months imprisonment suspended for two years.

At 8pm on Thursday 28 May 2020, a group of men, including the victim, Yeo and Brooks, entered Exeter St Thomas railway station. While on the station’s platform, Yeo approached the victim and began punching and kicking him.

The victim tried to escape but Yeo grabbed his coat to stop him doing so before throwing it onto the tracks. Yeo then chased the victim towards the station’s exit and jumped feet-first from the top of the station’s stairwell onto the victim’s leg, who was halfway down the stairs.

Yeo then got to his feet and continued to attack the victim as he lay on the stairs. At this point, Yeo was joined by Brooks who also subjected the victim to a barrage of punches.

The assault was interrupted by a witness who entered the station after hearing screams coming from within as she walked by. She shouted “I am calling the police” and Yeo and Brooks threw a few more punches before making their way back up the stairs to the station’s platform.

Both Yeo and Brooks then exited the station and were captured on CCTV fleeing the scene.

Following enquiries into the incident, the pair were arrested by officers and taken to custody for questioning.

The victim sustained a broken leg as a result of it being jumped on as he descended the station platform’s stairs.

British Transport Police Detective Constable, Dean Jeffery, said: “This was a particularly nasty assault in which the victim suffered serious injuries.

“Yeo and Brooks carried out the sustained attack with the intention of causing severe harm to the young man as he helplessly lay in the stairwell.

“I want to express my gratitude to the witnesses who bravely stepped in to challenge Yeo and Brooks, promptly dialled 999 and stuck with the victim until paramedics arrived.

“I am pleased that justice has been served, and a custodial sentence resulted from what was a very violent incident.”