A STROKE victim feared he was about to be hurled in a river as he was punched and kicked in a “savage” attack, a court heard.

Mark James Maddison launched the attack in broad daylight in York city centre.

He knew his victim had suffered a stroke and had a weak left hand side, said Judge Andrew Stubbs QC .

But Maddison gave him two black eyes, broke his nose, punched him five or six times and kicked him as he lay on the ground in Foss Islands Road in a “sustained, savage attack”, the court was told.

Jailing Maddison for 20 months, Judge Stubbs said: “The only sentence I can pass is one of immediate custody. “To do anything else would be failing in my public duty.”

Anthony Moore, prosecuting, said the victim believed he was about to be thrown in the River Foss and his watch had ended up in the water.

Maddison, 33, of Hawthorn Terrace, New Earswick, pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm.

Mr Moore told York Crown Court the victim was walking towards a meeting with Maddison at 5pm on May 11 when he saw Maddison arguing with a woman. He called out that he was returning to his car, turned away and Maddison attacked him.

A witness saw the two men fighting and Maddison kicking the victim on the ground. As Maddison dragged the victim towards the river, the witness called police. The attack ended when the woman intervened and Maddison made off.

As well as the black eyes and broken nose, the victim suffered cuts and bruises to his face, ear, leg and ribs.

Maddison had a long history of crime, but only three previous convictions for violence.

For him, Keith Whitehouse said his life prospects had recently been looking up. He had got accommodation after a long period of being homeless. He had also shown he could work with probation officers.