Harpenden landscaper imprisoned for leaving student with “life-changing” injuries

The Silver Cup. Picture: Danny Loo (Image: Danny Loo Photography 2017)

Jamie Green, 26, of Grove Road in Harpenden, appeared in front of Deputy Circuit Judge Graham Arran at St Albans crown court on Friday, November 10.

He had been found guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm upon agriculture student Martin Roscoe, 19, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm upon Martin’s father Anthony.

Prosecution counsel Philip Farr argued: “It’s as close to a case of manslaughter as can be,” though the judge refuted that.

On Sunday, August 28 2016 and into August 29, Mr Roscoe left the Silver Cup pub on St Albans Road with his father.

As they walked to Harpenden High Street to get a taxi, Green shouted at them from across the road.

Tony Roscoe shouted back and they carried on walking, until Green ran in front of them.

He asked for a cigarette, and began a conversation with them about farming, quizzing Martin on crop rotation.

Judge Arran said Green then became “intimidating”.

Tony Roscoe started to leave and Green then punched Martin, causing him to fall to the floor and fracturing his skull.

Green then punched Martin again while he was unconscious on the floor.

Tony ran between his son and Green, who “assumed a boxer’s position and said ‘come on’ and smiled”.

Judge Arran said: “You must have found it rather amusing.”

Green punched Tony Roscoe around his left eye, and then pointed to Martin, said he needed help, and walked a short distance away.

Police officers who came to the scene said Green raised his fists at them, leading them to believe Green was going to hit them.

Following the assault, Martin Roscoe had to be put into a medically-induced coma.

Martin has now been able to go back to university and driving, though with greater difficulty.

Green’s lawyer, Angela Kerner, said: “We wish to express our sympathy to Martin Roscoe and Tony Roscoe for what was a dreadful injury.

“Every time I have been in contact with Jamie Green he has expressed that.”

She said her client accepted he was drunk that night, and has a problem with drink, leading Judge Arran to remark: “The victims had a problem with his alcohol.”

Green, a landscaper, had been “shoved from pillar to post” and abused as a child but was now running a business and trying for a child with his girlfriend.

Ms Kerner argued the attack was not premeditated, but said Green admits he “went over the top” during the “catastrophic” attack.

Green had previously offended in 2006, and in 2015 he was cautioned by police following an altercation.

After helping end the altercation, Green was captured on camera running across the road and kicking someone.

Judge Arran said this indicated Green was in a drunken state at the time.

“You have been drunk a great deal, which is something I suggest happens a lot.”

Concerning the Roscoe assault, Judge Arran said: “You did it because you were drunk and have a tendency to react in a ridiculously violent way when you are drunk.

“Martin Roscoe has suffered long-term effects.

“He find learning more difficult than before as a result of what you did to him.

“The injuries he received were exceptionally severe, life-changing.

“One can only express hope for the future, and he appears to have tried to get his life back on track.”

Judge Arran sentenced Green to four years in prison, and said he would be released on licence after half of that.