Man jailed for 'unprovoked' hammer attack

A man has been jailed after attacking his ex-girlfriend's former partner with a hammer.

Aaron Spencer, 33, of King's Hedges Road, Cambridge, found and attacked his victim at a shop in Melbourn, near Cambridge, on 24 March 2022.

A passer-by managed to grab the hammer from Spencer, who rode off on his moped before the victim was taken to hospital.

At Cambridge Crown Court on 20 March, Spencer was jailed for six years and given an extended licence period of four years - after admitting wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

Spencer sat on a nearby bench outside the shop and waited for his victim before approaching him with a claw hammer and repeatedly hitting him in the head, police said.

Members of the public, including a nurse who was driving past, went to the victim's aid.

He required stitches and had bruising and swelling in the shape of the hammer head on his torso and shoulder.

Spencer's extended licence period meant once a parole board has determined he can be released from prison, he will spend the following four years of his sentence being monitored in the community.

Det Con Sarah Knights said: "This was a vicious and unprovoked attack which has left an innocent man with permanent scarring.

"It is fortunate the outcome was not worse than it was. I hope the victim can now move forward with his life."

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