FOUR young men are behind bars awaiting sentence for a gang attack in York.

One of them, Billy Allan, 18, was on bail at the time for a separate street attack that left a man fighting for his life with extensive brain damage.

Victim Tony Lansbury, 51, spent weeks in Hull Royal Infirmary following brain surgery before doctors decided he had recovered sufficiently to be moved to York.

Allan will be sentenced alongside Rocky Lee Allen, 20, no fixed address; Jordan Lawrence Ellerby, 18, of Kirkham Avenue, York, and Jack Alexander, of Roche Avenue, York, who spent his 20th birthday in the cells below York Crown Court as he waited to go with his co-accused into the dock.

All four pleaded guilty to violent disorder in relation to a mob attack on a man in Lowther Street, The Groves, at 12.35pm on October 5.

Witnesses told police they saw the attackers using pieces of wood and golf clubs. The victim, Mark Maddison, 28, suffered cuts to his head and other injuries. All four admitted the charge, Rocky Allen on the basis that he did not physically attack Mr Maddison, but encouraged the others to do so. All four denied burglary of a shed and wounding Mr Maddison with intent and the prosecution accepted their pleas.

A month before the attack in The Groves, Mr Lansbury was walking home in the early hours along Melrosegate, Tang Hall, when Allan punched him to the ground, then left him unconscious to be found by a passer-by. Mr Lansbury suffered a blood clot on his brain and was in a coma for some time after the incident.

Prosecutor Nick Adlington told York Crown Court police will ask both victims to give up to date details about the effect the attacks had on them for the sentencing judge to take into account.

Billy Allan, of Kempton Close, Acomb, has pleaded guilty to GBH for the Tang Hall attack and to a vehicle theft and will be sentenced for all three of his offences with his co-accused on January 31.