A thug who battered one of his friends during a drink and drugs binge leaving him with several broken bones has been jailed. Addict Jamie Hodgson, 33, set upon the pal after an argument and left him lying in the street before returning to continue the vicious attack.
Hodgson and his victim, who lives in supported accommodation in Bury, were both drug users at the time and on the day of the attack, January 29 this year, they went out begging together.
Hodgson stole some spirits from Tesco and they sold them, using the money to buy heroin and crack cocaine, the court heard.
They went back to the victim's flat and began taking the drugs, Joe Allman, prosecuting, told Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court, with Hodgson also consuming a bottle of vodka.
However, the atmosphere became "hostile" and there were "tensions" between them after the victim made it clear Hodgson could not stay over at his flat, as it could result in him losing his accommodation.
They were on their way to another acquaintance's where Hodgson thought he might be able to stay when, on Massey Street, Hodgson put a bottle he was carrying down and took of his jacket off 'as if he was asking for a fight.'
The victim remembers nothing beyond this before waking up in hospital in 'serious pain', the court heard.
CCTV footage later seized by police showed Hodgson attacking his friend, knocking him to the ground and leaving him lying in the road. He walked away before returning a 'short time later' and carrying on the assault.
"It is clear he was using his foot to kick or stamp on (his victim)" Mr. Allman said. Hodgson then walked away, leaving him on the floor for a second time.
In hospital, the victim was found to have fractures to his vertebrae, two broken ribs, and an injury to his eye. None required surgery with all being "treated conservatively" and left to heal.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, he said he still suffers from aches, pains, and discomfort and that he is now "constantly looking over his shoulder."
When he was arrested on February 6, Hodgson initially denied any involvement saying the victim had been arguing with other people about drugs, before eventually admitting to being responsible.
Hodgson, of Chesham Fold Road, Bury, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to assault occasioning grievous bodily harm (GBH).
He has 55 previous convictions for 111 offences, the court was told, mainly for drugs and dishonesty offences to fund his habit, though which do include some previous convictions for violence. He was sentenced via videolink from prison where he was spent several months on remand.
Mark Shanks, defending, said a psychiatric report showed Hodgson had a diagnosis of Paranoid Schizophrenia which means that sometimes he can "perceive threats where there are none." He said although the victim did nothing to provoke the attack.
Adding: "It might be it was in his own head that that was the case."
However, Judge Matthew Corbett-Jones said he was in a "self-induced state of intoxication" and that the "offending was a consequence of the consumption of alcohol and drugs much more so than the impairment of the underlying mental health aspect."
Jailing him for two years, Judge Corbett-Jones said: "You were in effect on friendly terms with (the victim in this case) and you had spent time together for a prolonged period but it seems it frequently resulted in arguments. There was the initial part of the assault after which you left him in the road, walk away, before returning some little time later in a second attack where you deliver repeated blows with a shod foot.
"Your offending is aggravated by your antecedent record. It's also aggravated by the fact you were had consumed alcohol and taken drugs.
"You have demonstrated remorse I consider to be genuine" he added. "You clearly have some empathy with the victim."
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