Man head-butted, kicked and punched in attack on Belgrave Road, Leicester

A man suffered serious injuries when he was head-butted, punched and kicked during an early morning street robbery.

Gordon Wright and Richard Mason started following the victim just before 5am as he walked to work along Belgrave Road, in the city.

The bakery worker tried to flee, but Wright chased him and head-butted him twice, knocking him to the ground.

He suffered a wound needing seven stitches near his eye, as well as two black eyes, bruising and swelling to his face and arms.

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Wright (27) was jailed for three years and 10 months at Leicester Crown Court yesterday.

He claimed he had drank 30 cans of beer before carrying out the attack.

Accomplice Richard Mason (20), who played a lesser role in the mugging and used no violence, had drunk 15 cans of beer.

He was sentenced to two years and eight months' detention.

Wright, of Tomasson Road, Crown Hills, Leicester, and Mason, of Barley Close, Glenfield, admitted robbing the married father of a mobile phone and a wallet, on August 25.

Sentencing, Judge Michael Pert QC said: "A citizen of this city was going to work when he was seen and followed by the two of you over a considerable distance. He was seeking to get out of your way and avoid trouble."

He told Wright: "Notwithstanding a number of witnesses, you carried out an attack of gratuitous violence over and above what was necessary to take his property.

"It had a profound effect upon him.

"He's understandably worried when he's in his home, when he's out and worried for members of his family when they're out.

"These are profound effects an offence of robbery can have on people."

He said: "Mason, you are responsible for the actions of your co-defendant.

"I recognise you physically played a lesser role, you're significantly younger and have the benefit of previous good character."

Mr Murphy said Wright chased the victim on foot and Mason followed on a bicycle.

Wright caught him and head-butted him, in front of some women.

The complainant asked for help, but they were too frightened and moved away, although they did call the police.

There was another head-butt, punching and kicking from Wright, while Mason asked for his mobile phone.

After about five minutes the victim was in "so much pain" he handed over his property.

The police arrested the pair nearby and recovered a wallet and phone. Wright's hands still had the victim's blood on them.

Wright further admitted breaching a six-week suspended sentence, imposed in September 2010, for damage and battery, when he head-butted his partner.

Brinder Soora, mitigating for Wright, said: "Drink and drugs was a factor. It was an opportunistic offence and he's thoroughly ashamed and has written to the victim expressing remorse."

Andrew Fryman, for Mason, said: "He's a follower rather than a leader and regrets what happened. He accepts it was a joint enterprise in a nasty robbery, when he was 19."