A group of thugs battered a man and stomped on his face, which has left him with long-term brain injuries as the victim continues to recover over a year later.
The victim, 35, was driving on his own on Clements Road, East Ham, on May 16, 2023, when one man from the group, Andre Jacobs, approached in a silver BMW from the opposite direction.
Police say the victim then reversed into Burges Road at 7.40pm but crashed with a black Ford Focus with two of the other violent men inside.
He then drove back onto Clements Road and crashed with the silver BMW.
Another suspect, Kirtys MacKenzie, then pulled up seconds after with a third car behind the damaged vehicles.
The four suspects then leapt from their cars and pulled the man out of his car to punch and kick him for around 20 seconds, leaving him motionless face down on the floor.
MacKenzie, 30, of Bekcton, then came back a minute later and stamped on the victim’s head.
The group then stayed at the scene and called police, claiming they detained him after he threatened them with a knife.
However the victim was rushed to hospital and was medically induced in a coma due to his several bleeds to the brain.
He also suffered a collapsed lung, a fractured jawbone and rib, and a fracture to a part of his spine.
To this day he continues to recover and is gradually getting back to his day-to-day activities – but doctors say he will suffer long-term brain injury effects which will affect his cognitive functions.
It also means he is at a higher risk of developing epilepsy and his mental health has deteriorated since the attack.
Police then found that the man was attacked after an incident earlier that day with Pierre Jacobs, at an East Ham gym at around 6.30pm.
MacKenzie was convicted of grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent to harm at a hearing at Inner London Crown Court on June 3.
Brothers Pierre, 20, Andre, 28, and Lewis, 30, Jacobs, all from East Ham, were convicted of GBH without intent to cause harm.
On August 1, MacKenzie was sentenced to four years and three months, while Andre and Lewis were sentenced for two years and three months.
Pierre was sentenced to two years.
Detective Constable Joanne Trevor, the investigating officer, said: "The argument spiralled and escalated outside of the gym into the public.
“The victim was outnumbered and didn't stand a chance. For some time it was not clear if the victim was suffering life-threatening or life-changing injuries, he could have lost his life that day.
“A great deal of work was involved in this case including obtaining medical evidence alongside expert opinions and CCTV. We also obtained mobile phone data which uncovered communication between the defendants after the incident in the gym, leading to them finding the victim later on in their separate vehicles.
“This evidence illustrated how those involved intended to cause serious harm to the victim and was key to the conviction.”
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