Clapham Station Pic Paul Gillett

A man from Clapham has been handed a suspended sentence following a brutal and unprovoked attack on a flower shop owner during abotched robbery at Clapham Junction railway station in October last year

Paul Roger, 29, had attempted to steal flowers from a flower shop outside the station. When stopped  by the shop owner, Rogers proceeded to punch him repeatedly in the head.

The fight was ended by two passing police officers who arrested Rogers for assault. The shop owner was taken to hospital for injuries to his eye.

City of London Magistrates court sentenced Roger to 8 weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 months. Rogers also needed to pay £1516 in compensation and must do 100 hours of unpaid work.

Detective Constable Christopher Smethem, of British Transport Police said: “This was an unprovoked attack on a flower stall owner who Rogers had stolen from. Violence will not be tolerated by BTP and I am pleased that Rogers has been sentenced for this crime, and hopefully it will deter him from acting in such an aggressive and unacceptable manner in future.”