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Friday March 13, 2015
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No. 676
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Missing man ‘probably murdered’
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LIFE RUINED BY SICK ROBBER
JAILED: Simon Brooke
Disabled teen’s mother can still see image of her son ‘face down on the concrete with his wheelchair on top of him’ By David Miller News Reporter davidmiller@thepressnews.co.uk
A CEREBRAL palsy sufferer’s life has been ruined by the cynical mugger who stalked him. Fenton Shaw, 19, of Thornhill Lees, was left face down on the floor with his wheelchair on top of him after callous Simon Brooke’s attempted robbery. Leeds Crown Court heard the incident last month has had a devastating impact on Fenton. Mum Nicola said in a statement her son is a “shadow of his former
self” and is “withdrawn, anxious and has lost trust in people”. Family members had built up his confidence so he could travel to college on his own in his wheelchair. But Fenton, who has had seven operations, has had all that knocked out of him by alcoholic Brooke’s attack. The teenager experiences nightmares and flashbacks. Family who saw the incident also remain upset. Robert Galley, prosecuting, said Fenton was on his way home from college and had got on a bus at Dewsbury Bus Station. Brooke helped Fenton onto the vehicle and then sat near him, hav-
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ing started talking to him while they were waiting. He carried on chatting with Fenton on the bus and even asked where he lived. Mr Galley said Brooke, 44, of Flash Lane, Mirfield, got off at the same stop as Fenton in Thornhill Lees. Brooke hid behind a car and watched as Fenton approached his home on Victoria Drive. He then emerged and asked to go into the house with him for a drink, which was refused. Brooke shouted “give me your bag” and grabbed at the rucksack on Fenton’s shoulder. He pulled with such force that
Fenton was dragged along until the wheelchair toppled over in the road. Mrs Shaw said when she closes her eyes she can still see the image of her son “face down on the concrete with his wheelchair on top of him”. Fenton’s sister tried to alert him to the danger in the seconds before the incident. He saw her pointing from an upstairs bedroom window but did not realise she was trying to warn him about Brooke watching from behind a car. Fenton’s father and brother dashed outside to help and subdued Brooke until police arrived.
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He protested his innocence by claiming he only wanted to use Fenton’s mobile phone. When it was pointed out he had one of his own, Brooke said he had been drinking and did not know what he had done. Christopher Moran, for Brooke, said his client became an alcoholic after he lost his job and marriage. Brooke admitted attempted robbery and was jailed for five years and three months. Judge Geoffrey Marson QC said it was a particularly serious offence given the vulnerability of the complainant and impact on both him and his family.