TWO men have each been jailed for ten years after a court heard their victim suffered brain damage in a violent confrontation in Sherburn-in-Elmet.

Victim Scott Priestley, 27 and his girlfriend Toni Rawnsley had been drinking together on Boxing Day last year and were on their way to a pub when the trouble happened, said Heather Gilmore prosecuting.

She told Leeds Crown Court on Friday that he recognised Gareth Stephen Roberts and Aaron George Pinkerton, who were among four men in a car, because he knew them from school.

There was an initial altercation in Duffield Crescent, where those in the car claimed Mr Priestley had kicked at the vehicle. There was then another incident when Roberts armed himself with a piece of fencing.

Sentencing the pair Judge Tom Bayliss QC said Mr Priestley saw them coming and also picked up a piece of fence post but it was taken from him and a blow was struck first by Roberts.

He said: “It became a sustained and violent attack in which both of you using weapons rained significant blows to that man’s head.” He said Mr Priestley was left with serious head injuries.

Judge Bayliss said Mr Priestley underwent surgery at Hull RI, a piece of his skull was removed to relieve internal bleeding. He has been left with brain injuries and is partly paralysed.

York Press:

He said the case was aggravated by the fact Roberts was on a 16 months suspended sentence at the time for supplying cocaine and Pinkerton had offences of violence on his record when younger.

Roberts, 30 of Bishopdyke Road, Biggin, near Sherburn-in-Elmet and Pinkerton of Eversley Avenue, Sherburn-in-Elmet each admitted grievous bodily harm with intent.

Richard Reed for Roberts said he bitterly regretted what had happened. Edward Moss for Pinkerton said he too expressed remorse.

Two other men who were in the car Lee Cormack, 35 of Hungate Road, Sherburn-in-Elmet and Ross Michael Nicholson, 28 of New Row, Micklefield, Leeds admitted affray at a previous hearing when they were sentenced and were each given 16 months in prison suspended for two years with 200 hours unpaid work.

Detective Chief Inspector Andrea Kell from North Yorkshire Police Major Crime Unit, said after sentencing: “This was a horrific attack involving the use of wooden fence posts and the victim is very fortunate to have survived. The quality of his life going forward remains uncertain. I would like to express my thanks to the local community for their assistance with this investigation.”