Thursday August 16, 10:56 PM

A man who attacked the boss of an animal research firm with a wooden stave has been jailed for three years.
David Blenkinsop, 34, of Horsted Keynes, West Sussex, pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful wounding.

Brian Cass, 53, managing director of Huntingdon Life Sciences, suffered a seven-centimetre head wound in the attack outside his home in February.

Judge Neil McKittrick described it as a wicked act against a defenceless man.

Karim Khalil, prosecuting, told Peterborough Crown Court that Blenkinsop was one of three people who attacked Mr Cass with wooden staves and pick axe handles.

Mr Khalil said Mr Cass had lived in fear of being attacked when animal rights activists launched a concerted campaign against the company in December 1999.

"He has lived in fear of personal violence against himself since this campaign begun," he said.

Mr Khalil said the attack in February, outside Mr Cass's Cambridgeshire home, was the "execution of a deliberate physical attack".

John Hughes, of Kenilworth Road, Hastings, East Sussex, who was facing a charge of conspiring to cause grievous bodily harm to Mr Cass, had the case against him dismissed.

After the hearing, investigating officer Det Insp Garry Swain said the case would remain open and police would continue to pursue the other two attackers.