Jailed twin brothers from Willesden Green lose bid for freedom

Jacob and Benjamin Thompson were sent to prison for attack in Peterborough

Identical twin brothers from Willesden Green who were jailed for a vicious assault have lost an appeal to have their sentences deferred.

Aspiring models Jacob and Benjamin Thompson, 21, of Robeson Avenue, wanted to postpone their imprisonment for six months so they could take up a modelling contract in Beijing.

Yesterday at London’s Criminal Appeal Court, lawyers representing the siblings claimed the job would raise more funds towards the £400 compensation they were each ordered to pay their victim.

Duncan O’Donnell, urged judges to reconsider their sentences, saying it was ‘wrong’ of the judge to make such a short custodial sentence immediate - especially in light of their youth and previous good character.

But their appeals were dismissed, with Lord Justice Treacy saying the crown court judge was ‘not wrong’ to have sent the pair straight to prison.

The brothers were jailed for four months at Huntingdon Crown Court in January for attacking Jamie Weston in Peterborough.

Footage showed Jacob then joined his brother in the attack, punching and kicking the victim as he was on the ground on August 27 last year.

Sentencing the twins, Judge Peter Murphy said it was obvious they were from a close and supportive family, had taken advantage of life’s opportunities, were hard-working and had put their talents to good use.

Observing that their roles in the attack were “as with many other aspects of their lives, identical”, he also accepted they had shown genuine remorse and realised they had “done a stupid thing”.

They were also ordered to pay their victim compensation after admitting assault occasioning actual bodily harm.