Man attacked 70-year-old because he mistakenly believed he was a sex offender

A 22-year-old man has been spared an immediate prison sentence for “brutally” attacking a 70-year-old woman because he mistakenly believed she had sexually abused him as a child.

Sentencing Rudie Larter at Ipswich Crown Court, Judge Emma Peters said the incident was “a clear case of mistaken identity”. She added that when police officers later told Larter he had attacked an innocent man, he was genuinely shocked and felt remorse.

She said Larter felt “overwhelming anger” when he saw a man he mistakenly believed was the person who had been in prison for sexually abusing him as a child.

He attacked the man from behind and continued to hit him while he was on the ground and threw a can at him.

Judge Peters said that when the man who sexually assaulted the defendant was released from prison, Larter was told he would live just around the corner from him. She acknowledged that this was “hugely upsetting” for him.

She said Larter was right to regret that no one told him about his tormentor’s death, but stressed that it was never right to take the law into one’s own hands.

Larter, of Banham Road, Beccles, admitted wounding the victim with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in January last year.

He was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to the victim of the attack, who suffered a broken cheekbone and a cut to the nose.

The innocent victim of the attack was shopping at the B&M store on London Road North in Lowestoft in January when he felt an “explosion in his head”, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

He came to on the floor covered in blood and believed he had been knocked unconscious, said prosecutor Joanne Eley.

After his arrest, Larter said the victim deserved what was done to him. However, when a police officer told him he had attacked the wrong person and the man who sexually assaulted him was dead, Larter said, “Oh my God, I’m so sorry. I can’t believe he ruined my life again.”

Steven Dyble, representing Larter, said his client waived his right to anonymity as a victim of sexual abuse.

He called the case unusual, saying Larter genuinely believed the victim was the same person who had severely sexually abused him many years earlier and acted out of “pure anger.”