20 years for gang who beat up stroke victim, then played cards

Tony Schofield had been enjoying a quiet drink at his local pub in Huddersfield last July when he was confronted by 22-year-old Daniel Lockwood.

Bradford Crown Court heard today how Lockwood, of Spen Valley Road, Dewsbury, made allegations against Mr Schofield's son, but the 54-year-old, who also suffered from epilepsy, ignored his remarks and eventually moved away to play on a gaming machine.

Lockwood and his friends then left Ricky's Bar on Leeds Road to plan their attack on Mr Schofield and CCTV equipment captured the moment when Lockwood and his accomplice 24-year-old Jamie Wood ''frogmarched'' their victim outside.

Recorder Sandra Keen was shown the graphic footage of Mr Schofield, who was known to regulars as ''Little Tony'' because of his stature, being forced to the ground where he was subjected to punches, kicks and stamps to his body and head.

As Mr Schofield lay severely injured on the ground two of the group, Daniel Mullins, 24, and 23-year-old Gareth Garside, threw their drinks over him before that gang fled the scene.

"Lockwood was he main protaganist,' said prosecutor Stephen Wood.

"He punched, kicked and stamped upon Mr Schofield. His punches were delivered with such force that he opened up a pre-existing injury to his hand causing it to bleed.

"It must have been obvious to each of these defendants that Mr Schofield wa seriously injured. Yet none of them sough to help in any way.

"The prosecution submit this was a joint attack by these four. There was a plan to bring Tony from the pub, to attack him and to give him a severe beating."

Mr Wood said after the attack the men eventually met up at a house where they ''chilled'' by playing cards.

"They gave no thought to Mr Schofield at all," said Mr Wood.

The court heard that a doctor described Mr Schofield's injuries as life-threatening and he was transferred to an intensive care unit following his admission to hospital.

A paramedic said Mr Schofield had suffered "severe facial trauma" and his consciousness level at hospital was very low.

All four men were arrested the day after the attack following an investigation by West Yorkshire Police's Homicide and Major Enquiry Team.

Lockwood and Wood, of Church Street, Crosland Moor, Huddersfield, were each jailed for five-and-a-half years after they pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

Mullins, of St James Way, Rawthorpe, Huddersfield, was given a six-year prison term after being found guilty of the same offence by a jury while Garside, of Langdale Drive, Dalton, Huddersfield, was jailed for four years after also being convicted of the charge at trial.

In victim personal statement from Mr Schofield's daughter Tara she said the attack had had a devastating effect on her father.

She said he had previously been a "very capable and caring man!, but he now required home care and she had to act on his behalf for official matters such as paying bills.

"Ms Schofield has noticed that her father's speech has changed dramatically now restricting himself to yes or no answers," said Mr Wood.

"She describes a vacant look in his eyes that to her display no affection."

Jailing the four Recorder Keen said there had clearly been a "pack mentality" in the offence and she noted that the men had been drinking shots of spirits as well as beer or lager prior to the attack.

"I take the view that alcohol played a very significant part in the commission of this offence,! she said.

She said Mr Schofield had done absolutely nothing and had been the victim of "gratuitous and mindless violence" that night.

Recorder Keen highlighted the efforts of other members of the public who had assisted Mr Schofield after the attack.

But she said the attackers had been chilling out drinking and playing cards.

"They could not have cared less about what happened to Mr Schofield," she added.

Recorder Keen said the throwing of drinks over the complainant as a lay on the ground was a further humiliation.

Lockwood's barrister David McGonigal said he had expressed his remorse for the attack and wanted, if possible, to take part in the restorative justice scheme to make a direct apology to the victim.