Workington bus station heroes overpowered attack thug

CCTV images of the horrific violence meted out by 34-year-old John Ian Pullin were shown at Carlisle Crown Court, prompting a judge to comment that the defendant was fortunate not to have killed his victim. 

The woman – rendered unconscious when her head hit the ground – was saved thanks to the courage of two bystanders who wrestled Pullin to the ground.

The defendant, of Birks Road, Cleator Moor, admitted attempting to intentionally cause the woman grievous bodily harm, two assaults by beating against the men who intervened to stop his violence, causing criminal damage one a victim’s spectacles, and breaching a criminal behaviour order. 

Prosecutor Peter Connick described how the woman was walking to Workington’s train station at 4.45pm on March 3, wearing her headphones and pulling a suitcase when Pullin almost ran into her.

She had to jump out of the way.

He immediately stopped and accused her of trying to trip him, yelling abuse and threats, and saying he would “reshape her jaw. He then threw her suitcase into the road. The woman ignored him but decided she should call the police.

Keeping him in her sight, she rang the police from outside Workington Bus Station in Murray Road. But Pullin saw her doing this. The next thing she remembered, said Mr Connick, was waking up on the ground.

The CCTV images showed Pullin running up to her, grabbing her hair, and flinging her to the ground. As she sprawled unconscious in the road, he stamped on her head and body, and swung her suitcase, hitting her with it.

He continued the attack, throwing the woman’s phone at her and stamping forcefully on her face. The violence was ended thanks to the intervention of two bus company workers who dragged Pullin away from the victim.

They achieved this despite his continuing violence as Pullin attacked them and tried to deliver yet more blows to the unconscious woman, a complete stranger to him.

Sean Harkin, defending, accepted that the only mitigation the defendant could offer was his guilty plea. A prolific offender, Pullin’s criminal record consists of 103 offences, which include 15 offences of violence. “He doesn’t have any [previous] convictions for using such a serious level of violence,” added the lawyer.

The court heard that the violence had left the victim with severe facial swelling, a possible nose fracture and a broken thumb. As a result, she suffered nightmares and post-traumatic stress, said Mr Connick.

Recorder Julian Shaw said the defendant’s violence was “sickening” and “brutal”.  The Recorder told Pullin: “It’s miraculous [the victim] didn’t sustain truly horrific injuries as a result of your assault, which was completely without any basis and unprovoked.

The judge added: “You are extremely fortunate, young man, that you didn’t kill that woman and then stand before this court facing a far graver charge.”

The Recorder jailed Pullin for three years and eight months. At no stage during the hearing was there any suggestion that the defendant had expressed remorse for his violence.

When interviewed, he criticised the police, referring to his own relationship issues and suggesting the police had not done enough about a “domestic” he’d been involved with.

Pullin's existing criminal behaviour order was meant to ban him from Workington town centre where he has been a known trouble maker.

After the sentence was passed, Detective Constable Olivia Foster, who worked on the case, said: “This was a completely unprovoked and vicious attack on a woman who simply happened to be walking by when Pullin decided to attack.

“The result of Pullin’s violence could have been far more significant, given the brutal nature of the assault.

"However, the victim is going to be left with the trauma of Pullin’s actions, long after this sentencing.

“I would like to thank not only the victim in this case for the bravery she has shown but also the Stagecoach staff who acted with great courage in stepping forward to attempt to prevent Pullin from continuing his assault.”