Five years for young thug who beat up a Marine for the sake of £15

In Saturday's Yorkshire Post: A special series of Britain's lawless generation.

Ex-Royal Marine Steven Lindley, 38, was kicked like a "football" and left unconscious, lying in the street with a fractured skull as another youth stole 15 from his wallet.

Mr Lindley's face was so swollen it was almost unrecognisable as he was taken to hospital for surgery - including seven pins to his broken jaw.

The father-of-one, who works for the Ministry Of Defence, had been visiting a takeway and remembers nothing of the attack in August last year.

Hull Crown Court heard on Wednesday that his attacker, David Winder, 19, admitted he had been drinking all day and squared up to Mr Lindley, who he had never met.

Sentencing Winder to five years in a young offenders' institution, Judge Michael Mettyear said: "You fall to be sentenced for a vicious and sustained attack on a 38-year-old man who you knocked unconscious.

"While he lay unconscious and unable to defend himself you both punched and kicked him.

"At one stage you left him, but returned to continue the assault. Steven Lindley has unfortunately suffered both physical and psychological injuries."

The court heard he may never fully recover. He has had to have privately funded-physiotherapy paid by his employer and has been unable to drive because of his injuries.

Jharna Jobes, prosecuting, told the court the attack was witnessed by taxi driver Richard Little, who called 999 and stayed to identify the two men he saw to police. She said: "He saw David Winder kneel and punch Mr Lindley three times. These were to his face. He then saw him kick Mr Lindley to the ribs while still on the ground.

"That kick rendered him unconscious. He said he saw him appear to move away. He saw him walk back while still defenceless on the floor and kick him like it was a football penalty."

Steven's mum Cec Lindley, 61, said: "I would like to give thanks to that taxi driver. He saved Steven's life. If that attack had continued he would have been dead. Steven owes him his life."

The court heard Edmund Heald, 19, who was with Winder, rifled through Steven's pockets and stole 15 from his wallet. He was sentenced to 12 months in a young offenders' institution.

Paul Genney, defending Winder said: "This was obviously a very serious matter. His best mitigation is his plea of guilty.

"He had been drinking all day and his recollection of events is hazy. He remembers an argument breaking out between himself and this man walking home.

"Words were exchanged. He followed him. It is the kicking that is the most disturbing."

John Thackray, defending Heald, said: "He suffers from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. He is a young man with many difficulties. He was at college studying his first year in art. Although it was a very mean offence he was very much on the periphery."

Judge Mettyear told Heald: "The was an incredibly mean example of theft. You witnessed this man being beaten up very badly. Then you returned to the scene to watch him get even more punishment. While he lay helplessly on the ground, you then went through his pockets."

After hearing the verdict, Mrs Lindley said: "I am relieved it is all over and Steven will be relieved too

"It is something that has been hanging over us. I think it is a fair sentence."

Winder, of Bridlington, pleaded guilty to a single charge of causing wounding with intent.

Heald, also of Bridlington, pleaded guilty to a single charge of theft following the attack at around 1.40am on August 2.