Jail for brothers in racially aggravated attack

TWO BROTHERS from East London have been given lengthy jail terms after carrying out a racially motivated attack. The sentences were handed down at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday, 5th April, where the brothers stood trial.

The convictions arose after an incident on 19th June last year in Follett Street, E14 – just by the entrance to the Blackwall Tunnel in Tower Hamlets. The victim, a 32 year old man, was walking down the road when he drew near to the two attackers, walking along with a group of other people. Ronnie Hansen began speaking to someone else in the group in racist terms, and the victim confronted him about this and there was an argument.

•Ronnie Hansen, 22, of Lawes Way, Barking,
was found guilty of attempted murder and jailed for 16 years.

•Robert Hansen, 29, of Tower Hamlets,
was found guilty of Section 18 GBH and jailed for 12 years.

After the argument, the group walked on: they stopped in the underpass which runs between Follett Street and the A12, where they began drinking. The victim was then attacked – at around 2.30am. The group abandoned the victim, but he managed to make his way to the main road and caught the attention of passing drivers, who called the emergency services.

The victim was found to have five stab wounds to his back, thigh and chest, as well as a punctured lung. He was taken to hospital, where he stayed, receiving medical treatment, for two weeks.

Police investigated the attack, arresting Ronnie Hansen a month later and Robert Hansen three months after the incident.

Detective Constable Simon Maude said, “This was an unprovoked and racially motivated attack and one which the victim is fortunate to have survived. There is no place on our streets for this kind of senseless violence and we will do all we can to prosecute those who commit these crimes. This attack has had a significant emotional and physical impact on the victim who has had to move to another area and we hope this sentencing will bring him some kind of closure.”

•Read more about it:
Prison for teens in Hackney “mistaken identity” killing
Tower Hamlets Two jailed for sexual assault