Man sentenced for 'alarming attack' on Peterborough poppy sellers

A man has been sentenced after being convicted of assaulting a poppy seller in Peterborough last November.
Poppy Appeal.Poppy Appeal.
Poppy Appeal.

On November 5, Tony Woodward, 33, saw charity workers who had been selling poppies in Bridge Street, Peterborough, put the collection boxes in the boot of a car.

A short while later, one of the workers, a man in his 40s, noticed Woodward trying to open the boot and challenged him, before he lashed out and ripped the glasses off the victim’s face, leave him cut and bleeding.

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Woodward, of no fixed address, was arrested on November 16 after officers identified him on CCTV as a local busker.

He was later charged with common assault and criminal damage, which he denied.

He was found guilty of common assault following a trial at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Thursday, April 28) and sentenced to an 18-month conditional discharge, meaning if he commits any further offences, he will be given a prison sentence. He was cleared of the charge relating to criminal damage.

He was also ordered to pay £100 in costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Sergeant Ricky Passam said: “This was an unnecessary and alarming attack on a member of the public who was giving up his own time for a well-respected national cause.”