Jail for man who led “vicious” Herringthorpe street attack

Thomas Carlin, Michael Dunn and Elle Carlin attacked Sarah Longden on Herringthorpe Valley Road — leaving her hospitalised for five days with a bleed on the brain.

Thomas Carlin (22), of Herringthorpe Valley Road, was jailed for eight-and-a-half years at Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday (15), while his sister, Elle Carlin (18), of the same address, and Dunn (22), of Alpha Road, Rotherham, were given 12-month community orders for their part in the attack.

Sentencing, Recorder Gavin Doig said: “It’s a matter of good fortune and nothing else that this was not an offence of homicide.”

Ms Longden (32) was attacked as she headed to a flat on Herringthorpe Valley Road with two friends at 3am on July 7 last year, prosecutor Mr Carl Fitch said.

The victim had been looking for cigarette ends on the floor to roll into a cigarette.

Dunn told police he thought Ms Longden and her friends were trying to break into his car, which had been parked in a layby outside, and he went to confront them, Mr Fitch said.

Elle Carlin tried to grab Ms Longden, who broke free, but Dunn and Thomas Carlin caught up with her.

Thomas Carlin assaulted her while Dunn shouted threats to her.

A witness, who called the police, saw Elle Carlin pushing and punching Ms Longden in the head, while her brother throttled her.

Elle Carlin also attempted to stamp on Ms Longden’s head, Mr Fitch said.

Ms Longden, who was taken to the Northern General Hospital, suffered a black eye, a broken nose and a bleed on the brain.

In a victim impact statement she said: “I don’t know why they were attacking me.

“I was not trying to break into their car or any other car on the street.

“They didn’t give me any chance to explain what I was doing — they just came straight at me.”

Thomas Carlin admitted grievous bodily harm with intent, Elle Carlin admitted affray and Dunn admitted threatening behaviour with intent.

The attack happened while Thomas Carlin was on bail for a robbery he carried out in October, 2017, with Gareth Troop (22), of Goldsmith Drive, Herringthorpe.

Troop and Thomas Carlin broke into Rosewell Court, Rotherham, at 6am on October 22 and attacked Curtis Ball (19), while he was asleep in bed.

Carlin punched Mr Ball and hit him over the head with a vodka bottle while Troop poured water on him and stole £10.

Thomas Carlin admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and Troop admitted robbery.

Troop was jailed for two years for the robbery and Carlin had two years added to the six-and-a-half years he received for the attack on Ms Longden.

Mr Dermot Hughes, mitigating for Thomas Carlin, said he regretted the “vicious and brutal” attack on Ms Longden.

Elle Carlin’s barrister, Mr James Baird asked the judge to spare her a prison sentence because she was pregnant.

Dunn was ordered to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work and Elle Carlin was given a four-month curfew order.