Father and son duo attack stranger in Sainsbury's with baseball bat and machete

19 March 2024 , 13:52

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Father and son duo attack stranger in Sainsbury's with baseball bat and machete

A shocking video has shown a father and son armed with a baseball bat and a machete attacking a stranger after an argument at Sainsbury’s.

Alfie Chambers, 23, was in the store in Cobham High Street, Surrey, last October when he became involved with a man he had never met before. When a staff member got involved they both left but Chambers produced a baseball, and the victim left. He returned minutes later as he had forgotten his wallet when Chambers pulled up alongside him with his father, Alfred, 45. Alfie was armed with a large machete and Alfred was brandishing a metal baseball bat, which he used to smash the victim’s driver-side window.

The victim escaped from his van and was chased by both men who then launched an unprovoked and prolonged attack on him, repeatedly striking him with their weapons with such force that he fell to the floor on several occasions.

Alfred Chambers, 45, has been sentenced (surrey.police)

Alfie Chambers had initially got into the argument with the victim (surrey.police)

The victim managed to get inside the Sainsburys where the attack continued while he was on the floor trying to protect himself. Alfie and Alfred eventually fled the scene.

Staff from Sainsbury assisted the victim with first aid until officers and colleagues from South East Coast Ambulance (SECAMB) arrived. The victim was taken to hospital with numerous injuries, including multiple cuts and bruises.

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Within a day of the brutal attack, Alfie and Alfred had been identified as being responsible for the attack and both men went on the run to Devon. They were tracked down by Devon and Cornwall Police and they handed themselves into Staines Police Station on 6 November, where they were both interviewed, charged and remanded into custody. They pleaded guilty at Guildford Crown Court on Wednesday 13 December 2023 and were both remanded into custody.

The savage attack was caught on video (surrey.police)

The pair were sentenced to four and a half years in prison each after pleading guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon. Alfred also pleaded guilty to criminal damage.

Detective Constable Daniel Bell, who investigated the case, said: “This was an incredibly violent attack on an unsuspecting victim who had done nothing more than have an argument with Alfie Chambers. The father and son’s response to this verbal altercation was completely disproportionate and it was fortunate the victim’s injuries were not more serious. Thankfully, he has recovered from his injuries although this will have a lasting impact on him in the future.

“This kind of violence has absolutely no place on the streets of Surrey and I hope this sentencing will make others think twice about using violence to mete out revenge.

During his summing up at sentencing, Recorder Gallagher said a fatality could easily have occurred and he was “not surprised” the victim told police he could have died when he gave his statement. Recorder Gallagher also said the attack would have involved “an element of planning and organisation” and that it was entirely unprovoked, describing it as “cowardly”.

Antony Clements-Thrower