A WOULD-BE robber who attacked three men just days before a man was allegedly murdered in the same spot has been jailed for three years.

Shane Harper had been drinking in Faringdon Park before launching the violent attack in the early hours of the morning.

The 23-year-old armed himself with a piece of wood as he and a teenage accomplice tried to rob the three men as they made their way home.

Chris Smyth, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that friends Jonathan Hill, Callum Buckingham and Shaun Curwood had been out in town on Saturday, June 21.

At 4am, they were walking though the subway from Station Road to the Oasis when they became aware of the two men behind them.

“Mr Buckingham felt a blow to the back of his head that dazed him,” he said.

“He then became aware of a tussle involving his two friends and the attacker. He blacked out, he tried to make off and was pursued by the other attacker.”

Harper’s 17-year-old accomplice asked him what he had on him and ordered him to hand it over.

Meanwhile Mr Hill was also struck with the weapon, which he believed was a metal bar, as he and Mr Curwood were being asked for money.

They managed to fight off their attackers, who fled the scene but were caught on CCTV entering the underpass.

When he was questioned by police Harper said he had drunk four cans of Stella in Faringdon Park and had tried to get the victims to attack him in an act of self harm.

But Mr Smyth said when his accomplice’s girlfriend was spoken to she said the pair had gone together and were talking of what they had done when they got back.

Harper, of no fixed address, admitted three counts of attempted robbery.

Rob Ross, defending, said his client knew he was facing jail as he was currently serving 32 months for drug dealing.

Jailing him, Judge Peter Blair QC, said he had read the pre-sentence and psychological reports and seen his desire to change which had led to him shortening the sentence.

  • Aulton ‘Tom’ Rogers, 60, is said to have been murdered in the underpass onJune 26 .

Jason Voong, 27, of Southbrook Street, has appeared at Bristol Crown Court charged with murder and the attempted murder of Leanne James, 24, on Thursday, May 8.