Man fails to appear for sentencing after library assault

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 15:29 · Archive

Mickey Johnson, 37, failed to appear for sentencing on charges including assaulting an 80-year-old pensioner outside Salisbury library.

Mickey Johnson, 37, of no fixed abode in Swindon, failed to appear for sentencing at Swindon Magistrates' Court on October 21 for eight charges including common assault, assault causing actual bodily harm, two counts of assault by beating, criminal damage, and three counts of using threatening words or behaviour.

On September 1, Johnson walked out of Salisbury public library and shoved an 80-year-old man he did not know to the floor without warning. The victim suffered a deep cut to his forehead and pain in his hips and arms. CCTV footage shows Johnson standing to watch as members of the public gathered around the injured man before he left the scene just before emergency services arrived.

Detectives from South CID attended and arrested Johnson as he attempted to leave the city. When questioned about the library incident, Johnson said he was frustrated because it was too loud to read and blamed his actions on his mental health.

Prior to the assault on the pensioner, Johnson had attacked multiple people in Swindon. On July 6, he assaulted a man. On July 25, he assaulted a different man and damaged a woman's car. On July 27, he attacked a woman and used threatening behaviour towards her and two other women, causing them to fear violence.

Following Johnson's failure to appear, a warrant for his arrest without bail has now been issued.

How it is being reported

• Pensioner pusher fails to show up for sentencing after 'senseless' attackA Swindon man who pushed a pensioner to the floor in a "senseless" attack outside a library has failed to show up to his sentencing.Gazette & Herald · 22 Oct, 15:00
• Pensioner pusher fails to show up for sentencing after 'senseless' attackA Swindon man who pushed a pensioner to the floor in a "senseless" attack outside a library has failed to show up to his sentencing.Swindon Advertiser · 22 Oct, 15:00
• Pensioner pusher fails to show up for sentencing after 'senseless' attackA Swindon man who pushed a pensioner to the floor in a "senseless" attack outside a library has failed to show up to his sentencing.Wiltshire Times · 22 Oct, 15:00
• Man who pushed pensioner in ‘senseless’ library attack fails to appear in courtA man who pushed a pensioner to the floor in a "senseless" attack outside a library has failed to show up for his sentencing.Salisbury Journal · 22 Oct, 12:00

In this story: Mickey Johnson · Salisbury · Swindon · South CID · Swindon Magistrates' Court

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem