Two young men have been spared prison following an “absolutely appalling” drink-fuelled attack in Thirsk town centre.
Kriss Danvis, 20, and Callum Knowles, 19, rained blows on the named victim and Danvis continued to punch him after he was knocked to the ground, York Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor Mahdev Sachdev said that the attack, at about 11.20pm on September 14 last year, left the victim with bruising to his face and forehead.
He had been walking back from a cash machine beside the Tesco store when he came across the pair and an argument ensued. They started punching him and he was knocked to the ground, whereupon Danvis continued the onslaught.
CCTV showed Danvis punch the victim about five times while he was lying helpless on the ground. As he did so, Knowles was trying to pull Danvis away from the man.
The victim later told police he had been “dragged” to the ground. He had been left with headaches and planned to seek medical attention, although he subsequently couldn’t be found and didn’t cooperate with the police investigation.
Knowles, of Stockton Road, Thirsk, was arrested on the same day and Danvis was arrested six days later at his home in Northallerton.
They were charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and ultimately admitted the offence. They appeared for sentence yesterday.
Defence barrister Rhianydd Clement, for Knowles, said that her client had endured periods of homelessness and his mental-health problems had put paid to his former work as a painter and decorator, although he now had stable accommodation with his grandparents.
He had since reduced his drug and alcohol consumption and a substance abuse charity was helping to wean him off an addiction to cannabis, Pregabalin and cocaine.
He was now on benefits but was getting his “life back on track”.
Kelleigh Lodge, for Danvis, said that her client, a trainee carpet fitter, accepted that his behaviour was “totally unacceptable”.
Danvis, of Bankhead Road, received a suspended prison sentence in February for driving and drug offences which were committed before the attack in Thirsk.
Judge Sean Morris described the attack as “cowardly, absolutely appalling”.
However, he noted that the defendants would only serve about four months in prison if they were to receive immediate jail terms under the current sentencing regime and neither of them had “any real (criminal) records to talk of”.
Both men received a 10-month suspended jail sentence.
Knowles was ordered to complete up to 46 rehabilitation-activity days and Danvis, the lead offender, was made subject to a four-month curfew which prohibits him leaving his home between 5.30pm and 6.30am daily.
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