Knife-wielding thug beat up innocent pensioner as he was walking home from pub

25 April 2024 , 07:04

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Joshua Hoihord-Smith was jailed for attacking the innocent victim in Birkenhead (Image: Liverpool Echo)

A knife-wielding thug attacked and threatened to stab a pensioner making his way home from watching a football match.

Joshua Hoijord-Smith preyed upon innocent Thomas Hayes, before battering him in the street outside his home. Mr Hayes, 70, had been watching the England Brazil friendly at a pub in Birkenhead, Merseyside, on March 23 when he was targeted. Hoijord-Smith, who was with his girlfriend at the time, asked Mr Hayes where he was going, prosecutor Callum Ross told Liverpool crown court, but the victim didn't answer.

But approaching his street, he was confronted by the couple again - at which point he began filming them. The defendant, 32, started shouting, yelling: "I'm going to stab you, I'm going to kill you." He then "started to try and pull an object from his ankle area" and "threatened to put his windows in", the court heard. His girlfriend pushed and kicked Mr Hayes, before the defendant threw several punches.

The unprovoked attack was only stopped when neighbours rushed to Mr Hayes' rescue, sending both attackers fleeing, Liverpool ECHO reports. One of the neighbours subsequently found a knife in the street and heard Hoijord-Smith saying: "Where is my blade? I've lost my blade. Watch what happens to you. I could have stabbed you, I could have killed you." Mr Hayes was left with cuts to his lip and the top of his head in the attack.

Hoijord-Smith and his girlfriend were both later arrested, with officers finding five wraps of heroin on the defendant. While in custody, he became "verbally abusive and aggressive" during his interview. John Weate, for Hoijord-Smith, said his client was "clearly agitated at the time", that he had been in a "toxic relationship" and was currently awaiting news about a tumour in his cheek. He had been carrying a knife that evening "for protection", the barrister said.

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Judge Robert Trevor-Jones called it a "nasty incident" targeting a man "simply minding his own business". Hoijord-Smith, who has previous convictions for battery, burglary, cannabis production and theft, was jailed for 18 months after admitting assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of both a blade and of a Class A drug. He was also handed a restraining orderbanning him from contacting Mr Hayes for five years. His then partner was released on bail under investigation in relation to the incident.

Adam Everett