A MAN has admitted to injuring an elderly man in an unprovoked assault in Salisbury city centre after becoming “frustrated” due to the library being too loud to read.
On Tuesday (September 1), 37-year-old Mickey Johnson approached a couple walking past the library and pushed the 80-year-old gentleman to the ground.
The victim, who was unknown to Johnson, sustained a deep laceration to his forehead and pain to his hips and arms.
Johnson, of no fixed abode, then left the scene, while members of the public treated the victim and called the emergency services.
Detectives from South CID attended the scene commencing rapid enquiries to track down the offender.
Johnson, who was swiftly located and arrested while attempting to leave the city, initially refused to engage with the interview, providing no comment answers, before being presented with evidence.
He then admitted what he had done, claiming it was due to his mental health and that he was frustrated due to it being too loud in the library to read.
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Police comment following Salisbury city centre attack
DS Joshua Bliss from South CID said: “This is a senseless attack where Michael Johnson attacked a man in his 80s, causing him to suffer a serious facial injury.
“The victim was unknown to the suspect and they had no interaction before the assault. The victim didn’t even look in the suspect’s direction before he was approached and attacked.
“The suspect has not provided any reason for the attack, other than that he is struggling with his mental health and had been frustrated about noise in the library.
“The victim is vulnerable by virtue of his advanced years, and so his injuries could have been significantly worse.
“I would like to convey my huge thanks to the multiple members of the public who witnessed the attack and immediately intervened by chasing the offender away. These same members of the public provided vital first aid to the victim until emergency services arrived.
“I also want to thank the local businesses within Salisbury city centre, who supported our investigation by allowing us access to their CCTV systems, which enabled us to track the suspect’s movements and obtain a clear image of his face.
“This huge support from the community gave us the tools to swiftly track Johnson down and arrest him.”
Johnson appeared at Swindon Magistrates Court on Wednesday (September 2), where he pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He will be sentenced on October 21.
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