'They came up against the last person they would want to': Pair of drunks jailed after trying to mug a cage fighter

Lewis Hawkins, 24, had returned from a gym session when he was targeted

Michael Bennett, 27, and Dean Maundrell, 25, tried to steal his car



Both men threw punches at the victim, who blocked them and fought back

The hapless pair both admitted robbery at Swindon Crown Court



Two men ended up nursing their wounds after the man they tried to rob turned out to be a cage fighter.

Dean Maundrell and Michael Bennett attempted to ambush Lewis Hawkins, 24, as he returned from a session at the gym.

But he fought back, repeatedly punching Bennett, 27, and ignoring 25-year-old Maundrell's empty threat that he was carrying a gun.

Wrong target: Dean Maundrell (left) and Michael Bennett (right) were jailed after trying to mug Lewis Hawkins, who was on the way back from a gym session in Swindon



Mr Hawkins then stood guard over Bennett as neighbours called the police and Maundrell fled, only to be caught later by CCTV footage.



Will Woodman, defending at Swindon Crown Court, said: 'They came up against the last person they should want to come up against - a cage fighter who knows how to look after himself.'

The court heard how Mr Hawkins saw two men loitering in the unlit car park when Maundrell shouted 'Oi mate, what’s the time? I’m not from Swindon' and then grabbed his arm.



Bennett appeared and the two men stood over him as he tried to get out of his Honda Civic.

Maundrell demanded 'Give me what you’ve got' and reached into Mr Hawkins’ pocket and grabbed his car keys.

Area: Lews Hawkins was attacked in a car park near Cross Street in Swindon

Bennett then took a swing at his intended victim but missed and was punched in the face in return.

The fighter went to walk away but the pair decided to continue in a second round with him.

Maundrell tripped Mr Hawkins and jumped on him and tried to punch him - but the fitter man blocked the blows before getting free.

Tara Wolfe, prosecuting, said: 'Mr Bennett made an effort to punch him again but the complainant punched back and Mr Bennett fell.

'Mr Maundrell got in the car and tried to start it. Mr Bennett went over to the car and was described as leaning all over it.

No choice: Judge Euan Ambrose told the pair the offenses were so serious they demanded a custodial sentence

'In order to protect the car Mr Hawkins punched Mr Bennett in the face again, causing him to fall to the floor.'

The cage fighter then dragged Maundrell out of his car and as he did so the thug shouted 'I’ve got a gun, I’ve got a gun,' to which Mr Hawkins replied 'Well get it out and shoot'.

Maundrell then said 'I’m going to blast you' but, when the victim told him to give him his keys, he threw them and fled.

Bennett hid behind a set of bins and Mr Hawkins told him to stay there until the police, who had been called by neighbours, arrived. He was arrested soon after and found with a lock knife in his pocket.

Maundrell was caught a couple of months later when CCTV footage showed him close to the scene and he was picked out in an ID parade.

The hapless pair, both from Swindon, admitted robbery. Bennett denied possessing a bladed article but was found guilty at trial. At the time, Maundrell was under a curfew for an earlier offence.

Jane Malcolm, defending Maundrell, said he had been drinking heavily and could recall little of the incident.

She said: 'As a result of excess alcohol he has behaved like a drunken lout. At the time he was at a low place in his life.'

Will Woodman, for Bennett, said the men had been drinking all afternoon and had been thrown out of a nearby pub before the incident.

Judge Euan Ambrose told the pair: 'These offences are so serious that in each of your cases only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified.'