Two jailed for beating a man unconscious in North Devon high street

Two men have been jailed for a prolonged attack that saw a man beaten unconscious in Ilfracombe High Street after a booze-fuelled night out.

Brandon Cooney, 25, of High Street, Ilfracombe and Wade Van Straaten, 28, of Clinton Road in Barnstaple, appeared at Exeter Crown Court for sentence on Tuesday, November 25 after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Both Cooney and Van Straaten were jailed for 16 months.

The court heard how on Wednesday, November 12, 2024 the victim entered the Snug and Hyde pub in Ilfracombe.

While in the pub, the victim saw the defendants and they invited him to join them when other people left.

At around 11pm the three left the pub to go to Cooney’s house and continue drinking.

Then, at around 1am they left the address and walked down Ilfracombe High Street.

It was at this time that Cooney and Van Straaten falsely accused the victim of having taken Cooney’s wallet and together launched a ferocious attack on him.

During the attack, the victim was punched and kicked to the head and body numerous times, rendering him unconscious.

Cooney and Van Straaten then brought the victim to his feet, sat him in a bus stop and stayed with him for five minutes before walking away.

The victim then tried to fight back, which resulted in a second prolonged attack by Cooney and Van Straaten, again involving punches and kicks to the head and torso.

The pair eventually left the scene and the victim was found by a passerby and then taken by ambulance to A&E.

DC Sam Jones of North Devon CID, the officer in the case, said: “The brutal violence used within this assault could have had severe consequences for the victim.

“The incident was linked to the consumption of alcohol, highlighting the dangerous interplay between alcohol and violent behaviour.

“I commend the swift response of fellow officers within Devon & Cornwall Police, whose commitment to reducing violence and crime of this nature remains unwavering.

“The sentences passed by the judge for the individuals involved are intended to serve as a deterrent, emphasising the seriousness of such offenses.

“I also extend my gratitude to the witnesses and licensed premises who supported the investigation, playing a crucial role in ensuring justice for the victim and public safety.”