Jail for 'arrogant' cannabis smoker who struck OAP neighbour

Sending Aaran Draper to prison for more than two-and-a-half years at Swindon Crown Court yesterday, Judge Jason Taylor QC described the 31-year-old as arrogant and selfish.

Last month, jurors found him guilty of grievous bodily harm after hearing that Draper had struck his 69-year-old neighbour with a broom handle over their garden fence in The Wyncies, Bishopstone, last July.

The neighbour, who had been in hospital in late 2019 and required oxygen to help him breathe, said he’d had had to shut his windows due to the smell. He challenged Draper about the smoking and threw dog biscuits at him, describing the treats as food for the animal.

The older man also threw a piece of wood, which Draper claimed had hit his mother. In anger, he picked up the broom handle and swiped it at the OAP, who was left with an 18cm gash on his head.

During the trial, Draper told the jury that he didn’t support the ban on cannabis, accused his neighbour of being an aggressive man and, when asked how the unwell pensioner could have rushed at him, appeared to suggest the OAP could have been wearing a brand of wheeled shoe called Heelys.

Cross-examined by prosecutor Mark Ashley, Draper told the barrister in a tone of mock disappointment: “A man of your stature, believing such bulls***.”

Aaran Draper's custody shot Picture: WILTSHIRE POLICE

Sentencing the man to two years and eight months’ imprisonment, Judge Taylor said: “This was a cowardly attack carried out in anger on a vulnerable, elderly man in his own garden. It was completely disproportionate and unnecessary.

“Your assertion in evidence that [the victim] might have been able to get to you despite his considerable mobility issues before you could retreat because he might have been wearing Heelys was laughable.

“The character that I had the opportunity to observe at trial was an individual with a sense of entitlement to whatever he wanted to do and anybody who dared challenge you was either intolerant or ignorant and as such didn’t deserve your respect.”

He said Draper saw himself as the “perpetual victim” and viewed others with disdain. “You even said that the police community support officers who dared to knock on your door to have a quiet word with you about smoking cannabis in the property were harassing you and should have made an appointment.”

The broom handle used to strike the victim Picture: ADVER

Even making allowances for the stresses of the trial process his comments were quite staggering, Judge Taylor said.

He said: “Had you shown the slightest consideration or common courtesy you would not be in the position you are today. Sadly, your arrogance and selfishness blinded you to the obvious, namely that not everyone shares your views on consuming cannabis and that you’re the one who should adapt if people take exception to it because your proclivities are, in fact, illegal.

“But that made no difference to you even though it was the year of lockdowns and people were confined to their homes and back gardens.

“What made it even more striking is that you knew your neighbour was a vulnerable pensioner with significant health difficulties – including having been in intensive care just months before with double pneumonia and COPD.”

Appearing before the court via video link from HMP Bullingdon, Draper, of Leckhampton Hill, Cheltenham, apologised for his behaviour during the trial and acknowledged he could have been more patient and respectful. He said he was remorseful.

Emma Handslip, mitigating, said her client’s life had gone into a downward spiral after losing his business in 2014. His mental health difficulties had been partly masked by smoking cannabis.

She asked the judge to consider suspending any sentence of imprisonment. He was expecting to become a father in the autumn and supported his mother, who had her own health difficulties.

Judge Taylor imposed a three year restraining order preventing Draper from contacting his victim directly or indirectly.