Rough sleepers used crutches to bludgeon duo who woke them up

Richard Landrygan (left) and Scott Shardlow (right) have been sentenced

A couple were left covered in blood after being attacked with a set of crutches by two rough sleepers.

Richard Landrygan and Scott Shardlow reacted angrily when the man and woman inadvertently woke them up after sitting down nearby.

One of the victims had his foot in a protective boot when the assault happened in Castle Gate, Nottingham city centre.

The man was also using crutches at the time, which Landrygan and Shardlow grabbed and proceeded to use as weapons.

After hitting the man in the arm with the crutches, the duo then followed this up by hitting him multiple times in the face and to the body.

They also repeatedly struck the woman in the face, leg, and arm with the makeshift weapon, before kicking both victims when they fell to the ground.

Both were left covered in cuts and bruises, while the man suffered permanent damage to one of his eyes as well as a broken arm in the attack, which happened around 5am on 20 June 2023.  

The assault was reported to the police shortly afterwards, with officers finding Landrygan and Shardlow while carrying out a search of the area minutes later. 

After being brought into custody, Landrygan, 54, then shouted racial abuse at an officer while inside his cell. 

Shardlow, meanwhile, was also linked to two additional offences – a burglary and a shop theft.

The first incident saw him steal a games console while breaking into a property in New Windmill Court, Sneinton, on 26 October 2022.

He was later found guilty of this offence during an appearance at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 24 May 2023.

Shardlow also stole meat products from Aldi, in Daleside Road, Sneinton, on 3 February 2023.

The 45-year-old would go on to admit to inflicting grievous bodily harm, possessing an offensive weapon in public, theft, and failing to surrender to police. 

Landrygan, meanwhile, pleaded guilty to charges of inflicting grievous bodily harm, possessing an offensive weapon in public, and a racially aggravated offence.   

Both men were sentenced for each of their offences at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday (30 April).

Shardlow, of St Stephen’s Road, Sneinton, was jailed for three years and nine months.

Landrygan, of no fixed address, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison.

PC Radoslaw Zygulski, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Shardlow and Landrygan’s reaction to being woken up that morning was well over the top and completely crossed the line of what is acceptable.

“Not content with taking an already injured man’s crutches off him, they then decided to use them as weapons against him – breaking his arm in the process and leaving him with permanent damage to his eye.

“As well as hitting the man, they also launched a violent assault on a woman he was with too, with both victims left covered in blood as a result.

“The level of violence and aggression shown during this incident was disgraceful, as was the language used by Landrygan when he was brought into custody.

“Shardlow was also due to be sentenced for two other incidents when this took place, so it’s pleasing to see both men have now been punished for their actions.”