Jail for disabled smoker attack

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 19th Mar 2008

A man has been jailed for two years at Cardiff Crown Court for attacking a disabled smoker who did not hear his request to stub out his cigarette. Robert Russo, 35, asked Glyn Robbins to stop smoking while they were waiting at a bus stop in Cardiff central station.

But when Mr Robbins did not hear him because he is deaf and unable to speak, Russo punched, then kneed him, as he fell to the floor, the court heard.

Russo, from Cardiff, admitted wounding with intent and unlawful wounding. CCTV footage was played to the court showing Russo kick Mr Robbins as he lay on the floor of the station. Mr Robbins was left bleeding from the nose and ear after the attack.

Prosecutor Richard Evans said a witness called the police and Russo was arrested. Mr Evans said: "Russo told the police, "I told him to stop smoking and I thought he was going to have a go at me so I hit him"."

Matthew Demaid, defending, said: "He misinterpreted Mr Robbins' silence as rudeness and that adds to the shame he feels."