Drunken trio 'beat man senseless'

The judge said only a custodial sentence was possible

Three people who beat a man "beyond recognition" when he told them to stop urinating on his car have been sentenced by a court.

Gareth Avery, 48, was attacked in Severn Avenue, Weston-super-Mare.

Jailing Daniel Fawcett, 21, Alan Stevens and Spencer Pettifor, both 17, the judge said the seriousness of the attack warranted immediate custody.

Fawcett was jailed for four years nine months and the other two received terms of three years' youth detention.

It was a "truly horrific incident of mindless violence fuelled by drink", Judge Michael Longman said as he passed sentence at Bristol Crown Court.

He had the courage to say and do something, the result was that he was viscously and brutally assaulted. Judge Michael Longman

As he passed sentence, Judge Longman lifted reporting restrictions to enable Stevens and Pettifor to be identified.

Previously the court heard Fawcett of Severn Road, Stevens of Brompton Road and Pettifor of Kestrel Drive, all of Weston-super-Mare had been drinking vodka and cider at Fawcett's house before the attack last February.

Fawcett was already electronically tagged as part of a curfew order for a public order offence and so stayed at home while the others left.

Mr Avery was walking home when he came across the group and saw one of the 17-year-olds, who was 16 at the time, urinating on a car.

Robert Davies, prosecuting, told Bristol Crown Court that Mr Avery remonstrated with the boy.

"The other 16-year-old was behind Mr Avery and he was then grabbed by him and they fell to the ground," he said.

At some point Fawcett's girlfriend, who told police she tried to stop the boys kicking Mr Avery, called Fawcett who lived nearby.

Fawcett then joined in the beating by raining down kicks and stamps on Mr Avery who was already unconscious.

'Permanent injuries'

"He had been subjected to a prolonged, brutal and pitiless attack by these three and was entirely unable to defend himself," said Mr Davies.

Mr Avery suffered a fractured cheekbone, two broken eye sockets and needed metal plates fitted in his face after the attack.

Judge Longman praised Mr Avery for being courageous and said he had physical, financial and psychological injuries.

"He suffered extremely serious injuries with severe consequences for himself physically, psychologically and financially some of which will be permanent.

"He had the courage to say and do something, the result was that he was viciously and brutally assaulted in what was a prolonged attack where he had no chance to defend himself and through most of it he was unconscious."