‘Violent’ criminal used wrench in fight which left victim ‘scarred for life’

A ‘DANGEROUS’ criminal who used a wrench in a fight in Chichester which left a man ‘scarred for life’ has been jailed for ten years.
Samir Atour, 44, of Southgate, Chichester, was sentenced for ten years in prison for the attackSamir Atour, 44, of Southgate, Chichester, was sentenced for ten years in prison for the attack
Samir Atour, 44, of Southgate, Chichester, was sentenced for ten years in prison for the attack

Matthew Dean Kemp needed 20 stitches after his face was slashed in an altercation with Samir Atour in a busy shopping area in February this year.

The two men, who were known to each other, began arguing on East Street before walking down East Walls, where the attack happened.

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Atour, 44, of Southgate, Chichester, intended to cause ‘serious harm’ to Kemp, a judge said, though it was not clear if the wrench he had in his pocket had been used to cause the injury.

Atour, who had a job renovating Cafe Rouge in at the time, was handed an extended sentence at Chichester Crown Court on Tuesday, totalling ten years.

A jury had previously found him guilty of wounding with intent and of possessing a dangerous weapon at a trial, but had dismissed a charge of carrying a bladed or pointed article.

Passing sentence, judge Christine Henson QC called Atour a ‘danger to the public’.

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Judge Henson said: “The jury, by their verdict were sure, that you wounded Mr Kemp, and that you intended to do really serious harm.

“On that day, February 25 this year, you lost your temper when faced with what you deemed abuse from either one or two men who you knew and did not like.

“I accept that contact was made by a single blow, and that it was in part as a reaction to one or both of those men’s verbal behaviour to you.”

She added: “Mr Kemp has been scarred for life and he needed 20 stitches on his face.

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“You’re now 44 years of age and you have previous convictions for 56 previous offences, a number of which are for violent offences such as actual bodily harm, albeit some of those where from when you were younger.”

Defending, Beverley Cherrill said Atour had previously attempted to remove himself from a ‘vicious circle’ of drug abuse and offending, which began when he was young.

DC Amanda Gamlin of Chichester CID said afterwards: “The long sentence sends out a message that violent crimes like this won’t be tolerated.

“The victim has been scarred for life on his face.”

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