Jail for gang who attacked former boxer

Mark Harold and Arthur Cooper were jailed for a total of 28 years over the “chilling” attack in which victim Karl Goodyear was hit repeatedly with weapons.

Leeds Crown Court heard a gang of five men burst man into Mr Goodyear’s home on Penistone Road, Shelley, Huddersfield, on September 22 last year.

The victim was struck repeatedly in the face with a knuckle duster and iron bar and threatened with a fish gutting knife. He was tied up during the prolonged assault and a member of the gang threatened to cut him from “ear to ear” with a samurai sword. .

They took £15,000 in cash from the property before stripping a games room of around £90,000 worth of sports memorabilia which the businessman had spent years collecting.

The court heard Mr Goodyear begged the gang not to take everything. Cooper and Harold were linked to the offence through DNA evidence at the scene. The other members of the gang have not been traced.

Both men were found guilty of robbery. Mr Goodyear described his ordeal to the jury. He said: “I was frightened for my life. I didn’t want to give my money up straight away but I had to tell them in the end.”

Cooper, 33, of Manor Farm Drive, Belle Isle, Leeds, was jailed for 15 years. Harold, 37, of Garden House Lane, Tingley, was jailed for 13 years

Mrs Justice Whipple told the men: “Mr Goodyear is a boxer. A fit man and a strong man. He did not resist the attack. He was beaten badly. Even the strongest of men would be deeply affected by such an experience. This was appalling violence used without any warning in the victim’s own home.”

The court heard Harold had known Mr Goodyear for many years as he had been friends with his step daughter and had even spent time living at his home.

Cooper has served two lengthy prison sentences for robbery and inflicting grievous bodily harm and only been released from custody two months earlier..