Thugs in street attack jailed

Victim Bartosz Szczyglowski suffered a fracture below his right eye as well as damage to the socket in the violent attack on the evening of April 22, last year.

He had gone for a walk with a friend, Iwona Krause, who was visiting him in Wakefield and they were drinking cans of beer as Simon Batley and Michael Liddon passed them near Wakefield prison.

Simon Haring, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court the woman said "hello" to the two men, who turned and attacked Mr Szczyglowski. Both men punched him, Liddon kneed him in the face and Batley kicked him in the face after he fell to the ground.

The pair were arrested the next day after police watched closed circuit TV footage from a nearby store. They found Batley's trainers in the washing machine at his home. He said he could not remember much because he had been drinking heavily.

Batley, 23 of Bridle Lane, Ossett, was jailed for three years and Liddon, 22 of Robin Hood Crescent, Wakefield, for two after both

admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Robin Frieze for Batley said his family described him as a "lovely man when sober".

That night he had been the victim of an assault himself. He now realised he had to address his drinking problem and since being remanded in custody had been forced to "give up drink the hard way".

Simon Reevell for Liddon said he had never been in trouble for violence before.