Nottingham milkman robbed before attackers crash float into wall

A pair of robbers launched a "prolonged and violent" attack on a milkman before crashing his float into a wall in Nottingham[1]. The victim was targeted while he was on his rounds in Basford on March 17, 2022[2]. His assailants, Rico Siddell and Luke Solomon, were given suspended sentences at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday, January 15.

The milkman was reversing the Volkswagen flatbed van in Vernon Park Drive at 3.45am when Solomon approached, picked up a bottle of milk from the rear of the vehicle and hurled it through the driver's side window. After driving away, he was caught up with by Solomon, who cycled up to the float at a set of traffic lights and grabbed the victim's phone before he could call the police[3]. After the milkman exited the vehicle, he was punched repeatedly in the head by both Solomon and Sidell and briefly lost consciousness.

Get the latest news straight to your phone by joining us on WhatsApp[4] The victim, who needed stitches to his head and suffered further injuries to his leg and back, told detectives he feared he was going to die because of the threats he was subjected to. Police received a call of a van colliding with a wall in Tewskbury Drive, Basford, at around 4.05am.

Officers found the vehicle embedded in a wall with smoke coming from the bonnet and a pool of milk all over the street. Solomon and Siddell were arrested nearby. Both appeared heavily intoxicated and Solomon was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre for treatment to his injuries.

While in A&E he assaulted two police officers by kicking out repeatedly.

Detective Constable Ben Hensell, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "This was an unprovoked, prolonged and violent attack on a victim who was simply trying to earn a living. It must have been a frightening experience for him and he required hospital treatment for some nasty injuries. "Siddell and Solomon could then easily have harmed other people when they drove the van at speed and crashed it into a wall." Siddell, 20, of Wide Bargate, Boston, Lincolnshire, pleaded guilty to robbery, while Solomon, 19, of Lace Street, Nottingham, pleaded guilted to two counts of robbery and assault of an emergency worker.

Both were sentenced to two years in a young offender's institution, suspended for 21 months, and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, as well as 20 rehabilitation activity requirements days.

Solomon was additionally made to complete a six-month alcohol abstinence requirement course.

References

1. ^ Nottingham (www.nottinghampost.com)
2. ^ while he was on his rounds in Basford on March 17, 2022 (www.nottinghampost.com)
3. ^ police (www.nottinghampost.com)
4. ^ Get the latest news straight to your phone by joining us on WhatsApp (www.nottinghampost.com)