We wanted to highlight a recent court result to you.

Two men have been jailed for more than three years each following two assault and robbery incidents in Portsmouth last August.

At around 6pm on Saturday 3 August a 56 year-old man was threatened and assaulted on Mile End Road by two men. He was not seriously hurt. 

A short time later a 26 year-old cyclist was stopped by the same two men on Mile End Road. He was assaulted and hit over the head with a bottle and his bike was damaged. His passport, £350 in cash, and a watch were stolen from him. He was treated for cuts and bruises.

A short time later, two men were arrested in the area. Josh Roy Russell Conway, aged 34, of no fixed address and William John McCance, aged 34, of no fixed address were both subsequently charged with common assault and robbery.

On Monday 27 January 2025 they appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court where they pled guilty to all offences. They appeared for sentencing at the same court the following day where Conway received three years in prison for robbery and an additional month for common assault. McCance received three years and four months in prison for robbery and an additional month for common assault.

Officer in the case DC Fullman said: “This kind of serious violence is not tolerated in Portsmouth, or anywhere in Hampshire & on the Isle of Wight. I hope that these custodial sentences provide reassurance to the two men that were assaulted. Our message to anyone in the city who carries out these kinds of offences is simple. We will relentlessly pursue you and seek justice for your victims, ultimately leading to you facing a prison sentence”.