Lewis Whitsey, aged 34, admitted unlawfully wounding the victim
The moment chainsaw-wielding Lewis Whitsey attacked a dog walker(Image: )
This is the terrifying moment a thug revving a chainsaw charged at a dog walker before ‘chopping’ him with it.
Thankfully, Lewis Whitsey had deactivated the power tool before it made contact with Paul Mills, resulting in a cut to his shoulder when it could have been far worse.
The 34-year-old was cutting down trees in woodland near his home in Gospel Lane, between Acocks Green and Olton, Solihull, when he involved himself in a row between Mr Mills and another dog walker.
FULL STORY: Solihull dog walker ‘chopped’ with chainsaw after he kicked dalmation, court told
As well as being struck on the back with the chainsaw Mr Mills also suffered a minor injury to his hand when he grabbed the blade, which was not spinning at the time.
Whitsey pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding but denied deliberately striking the dog walker and instead claimed he got injured accidentally during a subsequent scuffle.
However, his account was ultimately rejected and he was sentenced to two years at Birmingham Crown Court today (Tuesday, January 20).
He also received an additional two months for breaching a suspended sentence for burglary he received last year.
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Judge Dean Kershaw, who had previously heard evidence from Whitsey and Mr Mills, said: “I am sure the defendant caused the injury with a deliberate motion with a chainsaw but not when it was running.
“It is so improbable the injury was caused in a scuffle in the way the defendant tries to describe it.”
Mr Mills had been walking his cocker spaniel at around 3pm on May 28 last year when his dog was repeatedly attacked by a dalmation.
He confessed to ‘toe-poking’ the dalmation in its side to get it away from his own dog.
The dalmation’s owner began remonstrating with him and threw a punch before Whitsey emerged on to the scene, having been cutting down trees nearby.
Whitsey told the dog owner, who was his neighbour, ‘give me the nod I will do him, chop him up with an axe’, before he went and retrieved the chainsaw.
Mr Mills began recording on his mobile phone and captured Whitsey walking towards him revving and raising the power tool.
Lewis Whitsey(Image: )
The victim said he bent down and felt a blow to his shoulder, although he confirmed the blade was not spinning.
Judge Kershaw rejected most of Whitsey’s account and stated he was ‘not a good witness’ after giving evidence at a hearing last week.
However, he also concluded Mr Mills was an ‘imposing’ and ‘verbally aggressive’ individual.
The court heard Whitsey, a dad, had problems with drugs in the past as well as suspected traits of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Judge Kershaw said: “You only had to press that button and it could have all been very different.
“You don’t get a gold star for that. But it’s right you obviously had a change of heart.
“I bear in mind I think he was being aggressive.
“You are someone who said you are ashamed of what you did. I think an element of that is true.”
Having read positive character references the judge added: “There’s another side to you I am sure of it. It’s clear how good you can be.”
Chan Shoker, defending, argued Whitsey was more ‘misguided’ than ‘aggressive’.
He said: “He doesn’t cope well under pressure. His anxiety led him to become involved.
“He didn’t think through his involvement and acted, to a degree, on impulse.
“Mr Whitsey is prone to making poor decisions. Poor decision-making led him to commit this offence.”