South Yorkshire Times March 9, 1957

Youth sent to Borstal
“Vicious, Cowardly Attack” on Mexborough Licensee

An 18 year old railway fireman, Telford Plenderleith Milliken of Oak Grove, Conisbrough, who pleaded guilty at Sheffield Assizes this week to maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on Norman Mallaney, licensee of the Montagu Arms hotel, Mexborough, was on Wednesday sent for Borstal training. The judge described the assault as a “vicious, extremely cowardly attack.”

At Tuesdays hearing Mr Justice Oliver said “This horrible vicious attack was quite deliberate and you might have killed him.” He added that Milliken would be medically examined before sentence was passed.

Mr Alistair Sharpe, prosecuting, said no weapon was used, the injury being caused by a jab with the knee. During an altercation in his concert room the licensee was called in and was jabbed several time with Milliken’s knee. The injuries were so serious that an immediate operation was necessary.

Mr John Cotton, defending said Millican had been drinking and thought some men were picking on him. In the blindness caused by losing his temper, he identified the licensee as one of the men who had been picking on him and committed the offence. It was followed immediately by remorse and contrition.

On Wednesday, when sending Milliken for Borstal training, the judge said: “I have come to the conclusion you need some discipline more firmly than in your home.”