A YOUNG York man was today behind bars facing a "substantial" jail term for beating up a stranger in the street.

George Feechan's injuries were so severe he had to give up his driving job and suffered from blurred vision more than ten months after the attack by Lloyd Robert Jones, 26, outside The Mount Supershop, late on November 24, 2001, York Crown Court heard.

He suffered a broken nose and cheek, and a bruised and swollen head and face as Jones first felled him to the ground then repeatedly punched his face and attacked him with his feet. Jones continued the onslaught as Mr Feechan lay motionless.

After a retirement of more than three hours, a jury convicted Jones, of Lady Mill Garth, Clifton, of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He had denied the charge, claiming he knew nothing about the attack until police arrested him over ten weeks later.

The 12 jurors were the second jury to hear the case - last October the first jury failed to reach a verdict.

The Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman, promised Jones he would receive a "substantial" prison sentence and remanded him in custody. He adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report because Jones has never been jailed before.

Both juries were told that the 49-year-old victim had gone into the store, in The Mount, to do some late-night shopping. As he chatted to manager Paul Adams and the shop man's girlfriend, Julie Lawson, Jones brushed past him and when he tried to leave, Jones blocked his way, gesticulating.

Mr Feechan told the jury that he tried to get past, saying "get out of my way" when he felt a sharp pain to his face and nose and remembered no more.

In a statement read to the jury, tourist Elizabeth Gidlow said she was strolling past with her husband, Peter, when she saw Jones send Mr Feechan "flying to the floor", lift his head up with one hand and punch him with the other.

Jones, giving evidence, said he had used the cash dispenser in the shop at about the time Mr Feechan was attacked.

But he claimed that the older man blocked his way inside the shop, that he squeezed past and went straight to a nearby friend's flat. Earlier he said he had spent the afternoon and evening watching a rugby international at a pub and drinking.

Updated: 09:42 Thursday, March 13, 2003