TWO men have been jailed after they viciously attacked a man in a busy street in front of shoppers.
Women, elderly people and children were distressed to see a young man being repeatedly kicked, punched and stamped on as they went about their business.
The attack happened in the middle of the afternoon in the centre of Wrexham.
Mold Crown Court heard how the victim was first attacked inside The Exchange pawn shop in Lord Street.
He was kicked and punched by Nathan Ainge and Benjamin Storrar, both 25, an attack captured on CCTV.
The shop owner intervened but victim Josh Williams was dragged out of the shop where he was then set about on the pavement.
He did not fight back and ended up with multiple injuries including a fractured cheek bone.
Both were jailed for 14 months after they admitted a wounding charge.
Judge Rhys Rowlands branded it ‘drunken street violence’.
Whatever the background, there would be no excuse for their behaviour, he said.
“He posed absolutely no threat to either of you,” Judge Rowlands told them.
Both defendants had drunk far too much and the attack was in a public place where witnesses had the misfortune to witness what was taking place.
“The two of you were acting together, two on one,” he said.
“The attack was sustained and involved repeated punches. The victim was kicked more than once by the two of you as he lay on the ground.”
Prosecutor David Mainstone said Mr Williams and Ainge had been friends after they met at the Ty Nos Night Shelter and when Ainge later obtained a flat Williams was invited to stay with him.
Ainge later said £60 had gone missing from the flat. He blamed Mr Williams and on November 19 the two defendants followed him in Wrexham town centre.
Mr Williams was at the pawn shop to sell a DVD player. He entered the shop but felt intimidated when he saw both defendants hanging around outside.
There was a threat to kill him.
They entered, Mr Williams tried to leave, they stopped him and CCTV then captured the scene as he was repeatedly punched by both of them.
He was then dragged outside where the attack continued on the pavement as he protested his innocence.
A number of witnesses had seen the attack. One told how he saw the victim being kicked to the head, another said she saw the victim being thrown to the ground, punched in the face and then kicked to the back and stomach.
Another witness told how one of the attackers was shouting ‘I want my money’ as the victim was kicked to the head and torso.
Her stomach turned when she heard a loud crack.
The victim was pleaded and shouting: “I don’t have your money.”
A further witness said the kicks were ‘as hard as possible’ and she saw each kicking him three or four times.
One woman intervened because she was so sickened by what she saw, opened the door of a nearby hairdressers and tried to pull the victim inside.
At one stage there was something of a tug-a-war as the defendants tried to pull him back out.
One was heard to shout that he would bite his ear off.
Interviewed, Storrar, of New Chapel Court in Whitchurch, said he had been drinking, knew nothing of any dispute, but had helped a friend when he saw him fighting.
Ainge now of Sussex Street in Rhyl, made no comment.
Stephen Edwards, for Storrar, said he was ashamed of what he had done.
It was appreciated that such incidents in the street would be regarded very seriously by the courts because shoppers who witnessed such a thing would be reluctant to return.
ony Rose, for Ainge, said his behaviour was unforgivable. He lost his temper and became angry when he saw Mr Williams, who he believed owed him money.