Violent Farnworth brothers jailed for 21 years after brutal attack

Lucas Lonsdale recruited his brother Reece Lonsdale to help him target the home of the debtor’s friend, but when they came across the householder inside the property he was brutally beaten around the head with a glass object and a golf club.

While Reece Lonsdale held victim Scott Wilson from behind in a chokehold, he shouted to his brother to “do him”.

Reece Lonsdale

Manchester Crown Court heard how Mr Wilson’s friend, Kieran Lyons had accrued a drug debt of several hundred pounds in the summer of 2020 and 33-year-old Lucas Lonsdale was subcontracted to recover the cash.

Daniel Calder, prosecuting, told how Lucas Lonsdale made multiple calls and sent messages to Mr Lyons in March last year referring to a “builders” invoice.

“For reasons that remain unclear, Mr Wilson then found himself involved in the dispute,” said Mr Calder, who added that Mr Wilson then received a WhatsApp message from Reece Lonsdale on the afternoon of March 25, accompanied by a photograph of his house in Horwich, stating, “I want 1,000 by tomorrow night”.

The Lonsdales were lurking near the house and thought no one was at home as there was no car packed outside.

But Mr Wilson’s vehicle was inside the garage and he was at home.

Minutes after Reece sent another message stating, “Lucky ur not hme” Mr WIlson heard a crash and came downstairs to find the brothers inside the house.

He was was hit and kneed in the head before being grabbed by 28-year-old Reece Lonsdale as he tried to flee up the stairs.

He shouted to his brother “Lucas, Lucas do him”.

“Lucas had in his hand some sort of glass object – Mr Wilson describes it as either a bottle or an oil candle burner – which he used to strike Mr Wilson to the head numerous times,” said Mr Calder.

Lucas Lonsdale

As Mr Wilson scrambled on his hands and knees from the house, one of the brothers, thought to be Lucas, grabbed a golf club and struck him over the head again.

The victim spent two days in hospital being treated for cuts and a fractured skull and eye socket and police later found the charred golf club in Reece Lonsdale’s back garden, where attempts had been made to set it on fire.

While on bail, Lucas Lonsdale also got involved in more violence after neighbours complained about loud noise and music coming from an all-night party he was attending in Mancroft Avenue, Great Lever on August 15 last year.

Neighbour Adnan Kaduji knocked the door and on the window with a stick at 3am but could get no reply.

“He returned home in the hope that the noise would die down. It did not,” said Mr Calder.

Two hours later, Mr Kaduji’s mother tried knocking on the window again but this time Lucas Lonsdale and 28-year-old Jason Brockhouse came out of the house, shouting racist abuse and breaking the partition fence.

And when Mr Kaduji came to his mother’s defence the pair attacked him, punching and kicking his head and body.

A neighbour, Siddique Divelli, tried to intervene but was also punched and kicked by Brockhouse before the attackers moved back into the house and began throwing glass bottles from the windows.

After a time the men came out of the house again, armed with weapons. Lonsdale had a knife and Brockhouse was carrying a knife or hammer and one of them charged at a man in the street.

When police arrived at the scene Brockhouse had climbed onto the house roof and was shouting racist abuse, before eventually climbing down.

Lonsdale was found hiding in a cupboard inside the house.

Reece Lonsdale, of Kentmere Grove, Farnworth denied aggravated burglary and causing grievous bodily harm but was convicted following a trial.

Richard Brigden, defending, told the judge, Recorder Andrew Long, that the violence he was involved in was not planned and he is “developing remorse” for the crimes he has committed.

He added that Reece Lonsdale’s introduction to drugs began at the age of eight when he was encouraged to smoke cannabis.

“This defendant drew up in a household that was far from nurturing,” said Mr Brigden.

Lucas Lonsdale, of Moorside Avenue, Farnworth, admitted aggravated burglary, affray, racial assault, racial harassment and possessing a knife.

Michael Johnson, defending him, said the father-of-two was “deeply ashamed” of his behaviour.

Brockhouse, aged 27, of Haywood Road, Prestwich, admitted affray, racial assault and racial harassment.

Kevin Liston, defending, stressed that, while on remand in prison he has reflected on his actions and taken steps to alter his behaviour.

“He has a strong work ethic and desire to set up his own business,” he said.

Recorder Long jailed Lucas Lonsdale for 11 years and his brother Reece for 10 years while Brockhouse was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for 18 months.

He was ordered to undertake 180 hours of unpaid work, abstain from alcohol for 90 days and participate in 20 days of rehabilitation activities.