A TEENAGER who smashed the face of his ex-girlfriend's grandfather in a life-threatening attack was today jailed for nine years.

Leeds Crown Court heard how Christopher Wright repeatedly hit 71-year-old Edwin Hopper with a glass decanter, kicked and stamped on him and tried to use a knife on him at night in the house where the pensioner had lived for more than 30 years.

Judge Peter Charlesworth called it a "ferocious, sustained attack" that may have been revenge or may have been robbery.

The widower suffered several fractures to his eye sockets, jawbone and cheekbones and 21 cuts and bruises to his face.

"It is difficult to believe anyone could do this, but you did it," the judge told Wright.

His face was "literally smashed in" during the ferocious and sustained attack.

"Only the intervention by the good neighbours who went round and shouted brought it to a stop," the judge added

He ordered rewards of £250 each as a token thank you to the four men and women who hurried to Mr Hopper's home when they heard shouting and banging. Wright broke a kitchen window and fled when he heard them coming. The judge said they saved the popular, harmless pensioner from worse injuries.

Outside the courtroom, his daughter, Lynn Audin, and other members of the family said the attack had aged her father ten years and turned him from a young 71-year-old into a "frail, frightened man".

"It's not long enough," she said of the sentence. "I am very, very bitter and angry (about Wright). I don't like feeling that way, but I don't know how to feel anything else."

She praised the four next-door neighbours, John and Doreen Barsby, Nicola Hood and Shane Thomas, whom the family believed saved Mr Hopper's life. Relatives were told another ten minutes without help would have been fatal.

She added: "The family would also like to say a very big thank-you to the police for everything they have done. They have been marvellous."

Wright, 18, who lived near to Mr Hopper in Middleton Road, Acomb, pleaded guilty today to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and was jailed for nine years. He had been due to stand trial for attempted murder.

Julian Goose, QC, said that Wright had gone out with Mr Hopper's granddaughter, Gemma Kelly, in 2000, but the pensioner had disapproved and the relationship had broken up. Wright had left Acomb for Ipswich, but returned last year.

On November 12, shortly after Mr Hopper returned from his daily visit to his local pub about ten minutes from his home, neighbours heard shouting and banging.

As Wright escaped, he took Mr Hopper's wallet and £90 in cash.

He later told friends how he had attacked the pensioner with a knife, his hands and feet.

For Wright, Graham Hyland QC said the teenager did not know why he carried out the attack.

Updated: 15:09 Monday, October 14, 2002