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Jade's husband gets 12 weeks jail for assault
Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent14 Apr 2009
JADE Goody's husband Jack Tweed was jailed for 12 weeks today for attacking a taxi driver.
Tweed, 21, whose reality TV star wife died from cancer last month, was told he must go behind bars for "punishment and to protect the public".
But he was handed a short sentence as the magistrates recognised the loss of his wife had forced him to grow up fast in recent months.
Tweed had been convicted of assaulting Stephen Wilkins in Epping in May last year and had expected imprisonment, arriving at Harlow magistrates' court today clutching an overnight bag.
As the sentence was announced Tweed blinked back tears, nodded to his mother Mary and friends in the public gallery and was led from the dock in handcuffs.
Sentencing, chairwoman Margaret Webb said: "We are sending you to custody for a total of 12 weeks. We think there is no other appropriate way to deal with you because the offence was so serious only a custodial sentence can be justified.
"The purpose of the sentence is punishment and protection of the public. The aggravating features of particular importance are that the offence was committed under the influence of alcohol, the victim was serving the public and was put in fear, the offence was committed on bail and another driver heard the threats and abuse.
"We have borne in mind the recent changes in your personal circumstances and have reflected this in the level of the sentence which would otherwise have been 18 weeks."
Outside court solicitor George Kampanella claimed Tweed had been victimised because of his celebrity.
"The family are devastated and feel that Jack has been treated more severely because of who he is. We are considering the prospects of an appeal," he said.
Tweed will have to serve only half of his sentence but was warned that if he committed another offence while on licence he would be returned to jail to serve the full sentence. He was also ordered to pay £455 costs and £300 compensation to his victim.
It was the second time in six months that Tweed, of Buckhurst Hill, Essex, had been found guilty of assault. In September he was given an 18-month sentence at Chelmsford crown court after being convicted of hitting a 16-year-old boy with a golf club. He was released in January, having to wear a tag and observe a curfew.
The curfew was relaxed to allow Tweed to spend his wedding night with Jade, who died barely two months later.
Tweed's lawyer Tania Panagiotopoulou had pleaded today that he be spared jail on the grounds that he had matured. She said: "Mr Tweed is 21. He was 20 at the time of this offence that took place 11 months ago. There has been no re-offending since that date." She added that Tweed "has had to mature, and mature very quickly, in the last few months. "He is a widower at the age of 21."
Reader views (7)
what a complete and utter sham,who does he think he is a celeb or somthing like that,what is the justice system coming to ,no wonder so many want to live in our easy going country,the uk has finally gone bonkers.
- Samantha, east sussex, 15/04/2009 10:32
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do his lawyers seriously expect the public to believe he is victimised because of his 'celebrity'??.
Firstly he is a second rate celeb.
Secondly he has assaulted people physically. I mean hitting a 16 year old with a golf club is just madness.
I'd take the 12 weeks and keep his mouth shut.
Calling him a widower at 21 is trying to tug at the heart strings when a cynic might even wonder if he would have married jade should she have lived a full life.
Reuben, you're right mate, its one of the reasons the UK is seen as a laughing stock.
- William Bailey, wgtn, nz, 15/04/2009 06:10
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only 12 weeks, anyone else would have had 6 months... what is the country coming to when they protect the so called celebs who have never done a honest day in their lives. Its an absolute disgrace..
- Stephen, merthyr tydfil, 14/04/2009 23:45
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Too light a sentence.
- Jb Hove, hove sussex uk, 14/04/2009 17:20
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He would normally have received an 18 week sentence.
He got a 12 week sentence.
He will serve 6 weeks.
Just 42 days inside.
NO WONDER THE UK IS THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THE WORLD.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK, 14/04/2009 17:02
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solicitor George Kampanella claimed Tweed had been victimised because of his celebrity. "The family are devastated and feel that Jack has been treated more severely because of who he is. We are considering the prospects of an appeal" How funny of the lawyer to say this about this worthless individual. He got better treatment because of his 15 minutes of fame with what's her name...
- Joanna, london, 14/04/2009 16:36
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A ridiculously light sentence! I expect the taxi driver was terrified. We condone violence routinely, and deserve the society we get as a result.
- Paul Freeman, London, England, 14/04/2009 16:20
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