Pair jailed after man left in coma for two weeks

A man was left in a coma for up to two weeks after being lured to a woman’s home and then attacked.

Cecil Phillips, 46, and Tarnia Piasecki, 32, of Warner Road, Camberwell were yesterday found guilty of grievous bodily harm on September 15 last year – but not of attempted murder.

Police issued an appeal after the victim was found unconscious in Warner Road with horrendous head injuries.

Detectives say it was only thanks to the efforts of officers, paramedics and doctors that he recovered.

The pair were sentenced at Kingston Crown Court. Phillips was jailed to 18 years and Piasecki to 10 years.

Police were called to Warner Road shortly after 5.40am on September 15, 2018 following reports of an assault.

Officers attended and found a man suffering from a serious head injury. He was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

Both Phillips and Piasecki were arrested the same day in connection with the incident. They were charged and remanded in custody.

Enquiries were undertaken to identify the victim immediately after the assault, including the issue of a media appeal.

However, in late September 2018 the man awoke and identified himself to hospital staff. It was established that the victim and the suspects were known to each other.

Piasecki targeted the victim, approaching him in Camberwell and inviting him back to the address where the assault took place, in order to rob him.

Phillips followed them and the victim was subjected to a sustained attack, lasting up to 20 minutes.

Detective Constable Nicola Barker, from the South Central Command Unit, said: “The victim of this horrific assault fortunately made a full recovery, thanks to the aid administered by the initial responding officers, paramedics and NHS staff.

“But for their efforts the assault inflicted by Phillips and Piasecki could have proved fatal. I hope the sentence we have received today will allow the victim some closure as he moves on with his life.”

Pictured above are Piasecki, left and Phillips, who have been jailed for 10 and 18 years resposectively