Two youths who battered a jogger with planks of wood and left him for dead have been locked up.
David Browne was left with permanent brain damage after being attacked while out for an early morning run on New Brighton Promenade. But the former police officer's teenage assailants will be allowed to keep their identities a secret due to a court judgement.
Liverpool Crown Court heard the then 56-year-old saw Boy A and Boy B swinging pieces of wood around as a young woman was passing them near to the Black Pearl pirate ship shortly before 7.30am on January 12 last year. She was left "unnerved" by the louts, and a concerned Mr Browne confronted the pair.
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But the 15-year-olds told the University of Chester lecturer and retired Cheshire Police officer to "f*** off". Boy A was then described as "moving on his toes, like fighters do when the adrenaline gets going".
Mr Browne saw Boy B swing the wood towards him out of the corner of his eye, and both launched a vicious attack on him with the improvised weapons - repeatedly hitting him across the head and body. The victim was having difficulty seeing, but managed to struggle to a nearby bench.
However, the attack continued with the boys throwing the wood at him. Mr Browne began to drift out of consciousness as he heard one shout: "Let’s f***ing finish him off."
Members of the public ran to his aid though, and police arrived as he began fitting and stopped breathing. He was rushed to Aintree Hospital after being stabilised, and was eventually discharged home.
But Mr Browne, who had been lecturing in cyber security but has been unable to return to work since, was left with a range of difficulties as a result of his traumatic brain injury. He was unable to think clearly or carry out mathematic sums and reported issues with his movement, a significant loss of memory and problems completing tasks such as driving.
The dad-of-two's wife Julie, who is battling cancer, is now responsible for much of his care. This afternoon, Tuesday, Boy A was handed five years behind bars while Boy B received five years and two months after they admitted wounding with intent.
Judge Brian Cummings QC ruled that the pair must remain anonymous despite a legal challenge by the ECHO to allow them to be named publicly. Sentencing, he said: "This was a joint attack, irrespective of which of you did what.
"You were both willing participants and are equally responsible for the consequences. The victim's personal statement makes for distressing, difficult viewing - harrowing, in fact.
"Prior to the attack, life for him was in many ways very good but not without its difficulties. The effects have been devastating. David Browne will never be the same, and life will never be the same for him or anyone connected with him. He can no longer work, and his personality has changed.
"All of that results from your attack upon him. Striking someone to the head with a substantial stave might have easily been fatal. It would have been murder but for the intervention of the police officer, who was fortunately at the scene in time. It was only this intervention that prevented this from being fatal.
"Neither of you have shown any true remorse. There was no element of self-defence on your parts - all the victim did was remonstrate with you, and you attacked him."
Judge Cummings added that there had been "terrible consequences for the victim and his family". The two teens must serve half of their sentences in custody before being released on licence, and were also told to pay victim surcharges.
Boy A was previously described by his defence counsel Oliver Saddington as being "deeply remorseful". He added: "His parents are at a loss as to why their boy is before your honour."
Christopher Macmaster, defending Boy B, said he was "deeply sorry for his actions" and had struggled with a troubled home life. Neither defendant had any previous convictions.
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