The victim of a serious assault ended up in the dock of a crown court himself – over payments that were meant to get his attacker off the hook.

Reuben Tomlinson, 19, was badly beaten by now 24-year-old Cameron Paterson in Wantage on July 7, 2021.

But in the months then years that followed the assault, Tomlinson was in contact with attacker Paterson about what amounted to bribes to drop the assault matter. Their go-between was a third defendant, Deedee Satorupimait, 20.

Tomlinson, of Meadow Close, Grove, pleaded guilty at an early hearing to perverting the course of justice.

And on Monday (October 16), Paterson, of St Gabriels, Wantage, and Satorupimait, of Colne Close, Grove, returned to Oxford Crown Court to admit the serious charge.

READ MORE: Find all our stories from Oxford's courts

Paterson also pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm as an alternative to a more serious charge of wounding with intent. His plea was accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service, sparing the need for a trial.

All three men are expected to be sentenced on November 10. Probation reports were ordered for each of the trio, who were all in their late teens or early 20s.

The men face short prison sentences. Perverting the course of justice often carries spells behind bars, as judges look down on what they typically see as attempts to frustrate the police and courts.