Post by Teddy Bear on Aug 3, 2009 23:07:41 GMT
Considering this story, one first has to wonder how a convicted criminal becomes a presenter on the BBC, let alone commit a thuggish attack in a bar after he has achieved it. Then again, considering all that the BBC has come to represent, it's really no wonder.
BBC presenter facing jail for scarring youth with patio umbrella
A BBC television presenter who left a teenager scarred for life after attacking him with a 3ft wooden pole is facing jail.
Former Watchdog and Holiday reporter Ashley Blake admitted his career was in ruins after he tried to cover up the confrontation at a bar he owned.
Blake, a host on regional news show Midlands Today, swung the patio umbrella pole above his head before striking Greg Jones in the face.
Mr Jones was 17 at the time of the incident last January.
It has emerged that Blake had held down several prestigious reporting posts at the BBC despite having a lengthy criminal record.
He has previous convictions for theft, handling stolen goods and driving while disqualified.
Judge Peter Carr told Blake yesterday he faced an 'almost inevitable' jail sentence after a jury at Birmingham Crown Court convicted him of unlawful wounding.
He was also found guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice by throwing the pole into a garden centre in an attempt to hide it from police.
Naomi Gilchrist, prosecuting, said Blake had run into the bar in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, to fetch the pole after 17-year-old Adam Finn was punched and left unconscious by customer Steven Sproule.
The bar and restaurant - called The Place 2B - had hosted an 18th birthday party and was closing as the attack unfolded at around 2am.
The court heard Mr Finn's friends became angry following the attack, but Mr Jones, now 18, had been trying to calm the situation.
The teenager told the court he asked Blake to call an ambulance, but Blake, 40, came towards him 'swinging a bat'.
Mr Jones said: 'He was holding the bat upright and with both hands. He threatened me with it and then swung and hit me.'
The court heard he was left with blood all over his face and was taken to hospital for stitches.
At first Blake denied getting the pole to police.
When shown CCTV footage of him fetching it from the bar, he said he was going to use it to secure the doors and protect his staff from the revellers.
Blake was cleared of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He will be sentenced next month alongside Sproule, 38, of Great Barr, Birmingham, who admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Outside court, Blake said: 'I am gutted. It is all over isn't it? My job, everything.' He has been off air since being charged.
The victim's father, Steven Jones, said outside court: 'I'm just pleased Ashley Blake got what he deserves. My son is walking around with a scar for the rest of his life. I just hope the sentence reflects the crime.'
A BBC spokesman said the corporation would 'take time to carefully consider' the court's findings before taking action.
The court heard Blake's previous convictions included two counts of theft in 1986 and three the following year. In 1988, he was convicted of handling stolen goods and in 1990 of driving while disqualified.
Blake was convicted again of theft in 1993 and two counts of using a false instrument.
A BBC television presenter who left a teenager scarred for life after attacking him with a 3ft wooden pole is facing jail.
Former Watchdog and Holiday reporter Ashley Blake admitted his career was in ruins after he tried to cover up the confrontation at a bar he owned.
Blake, a host on regional news show Midlands Today, swung the patio umbrella pole above his head before striking Greg Jones in the face.
Mr Jones was 17 at the time of the incident last January.
It has emerged that Blake had held down several prestigious reporting posts at the BBC despite having a lengthy criminal record.
He has previous convictions for theft, handling stolen goods and driving while disqualified.
Judge Peter Carr told Blake yesterday he faced an 'almost inevitable' jail sentence after a jury at Birmingham Crown Court convicted him of unlawful wounding.
He was also found guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice by throwing the pole into a garden centre in an attempt to hide it from police.
Naomi Gilchrist, prosecuting, said Blake had run into the bar in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, to fetch the pole after 17-year-old Adam Finn was punched and left unconscious by customer Steven Sproule.
The bar and restaurant - called The Place 2B - had hosted an 18th birthday party and was closing as the attack unfolded at around 2am.
The court heard Mr Finn's friends became angry following the attack, but Mr Jones, now 18, had been trying to calm the situation.
The teenager told the court he asked Blake to call an ambulance, but Blake, 40, came towards him 'swinging a bat'.
Mr Jones said: 'He was holding the bat upright and with both hands. He threatened me with it and then swung and hit me.'
The court heard he was left with blood all over his face and was taken to hospital for stitches.
At first Blake denied getting the pole to police.
When shown CCTV footage of him fetching it from the bar, he said he was going to use it to secure the doors and protect his staff from the revellers.
Blake was cleared of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He will be sentenced next month alongside Sproule, 38, of Great Barr, Birmingham, who admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Outside court, Blake said: 'I am gutted. It is all over isn't it? My job, everything.' He has been off air since being charged.
The victim's father, Steven Jones, said outside court: 'I'm just pleased Ashley Blake got what he deserves. My son is walking around with a scar for the rest of his life. I just hope the sentence reflects the crime.'
A BBC spokesman said the corporation would 'take time to carefully consider' the court's findings before taking action.
The court heard Blake's previous convictions included two counts of theft in 1986 and three the following year. In 1988, he was convicted of handling stolen goods and in 1990 of driving while disqualified.
Blake was convicted again of theft in 1993 and two counts of using a false instrument.
