Nottingham Thug Convicted for Brutal Attack on Homeless Man
A violent offender who nearly killed a homeless man in a brutal Midlands assault has been convicted and now faces a significant prison sentence. Otis McDevitt, aged 35, carried out a sustained and vicious attack on his defenceless victim in a Nottingham loading bay, using a scaffolding pole as a weapon.
Sustained and Life-Threatening Assault
The horrific incident occurred on May 9, 2023, just before 11:30 PM. McDevitt followed two men from Upper Parliament Street into a car park and loading area adjacent to a Tesco Express. According to prosecutor David Outterside, McDevitt initially struck one man with a bottle from behind, causing that individual to flee. He then trapped the second man, who was homeless, in a corner of the loading bay.
The attack was relentless. McDevitt stamped on the victim's head, struck him with a glass bottle, and then picked up a scaffolding pole, bringing it down on the man's head multiple times. Witnesses, including two students, reported hearing the victim's screams grow fainter as the assault continued. The victim has no memory of the attack beyond begging McDevitt not to hurt him.
Severe Injuries and Emergency Surgery
The victim suffered catastrophic injuries that required immediate emergency surgery at Queens Medical Centre. His injuries included a brain bleed and multiple fractures to his forehead, eye sockets, cheekbone, hard palate, and jawbone. On May 13, he underwent an operation to fix his fractured jaw via a neck incision and had several teeth removed. The medical intervention was crucial to save his life.
Second Attack in Mental Health Hospital
Just three days after the initial assault, on May 12, 2023, McDevitt launched another violent attack. By this time, he had been sectioned and was a patient at Highbury Hospital in Nottingham. While playing pool with a support worker, he suddenly struck another patient in the face with a pool cue, knocking out several of the victim's teeth. A healthcare assistant who witnessed the incident noted that McDevitt had a blank expression on his face during the assault.
Court Conviction and Sentencing
Following a three-day trial at Nottingham Crown Court, jurors took only two hours to unanimously convict Otis McDevitt of attempted murder and wounding with intent. McDevitt, whose current address is listed as St Andrew’s Hospital on Billing Road in Northampton, is scheduled to be sentenced on April 24. The swift conviction underscores the severity of the evidence presented against him.
This case highlights a disturbing sequence of violence, with McDevitt showing a pattern of aggressive behaviour even while in institutional care. The community and legal authorities are now awaiting the final sentencing decision, which is expected to result in a substantial period of imprisonment for the convicted thug.
