THE victim of a street attack in a town centre suffered bleeding in his brain and was lucky not to have been killed, a court was told.

Thomas Gwynn was kicked in the head as he lay unconscious on the ground in Evesham after he and James Green had intervened after seeing a friend surrounded by eight young men, said Tariq Shakoor, prosecuting at Worcester Crown Court.

Mr Green, who was also knocked down by blows to his face, recognised one of his attackers as 19-year-old Paul Gurney. Two months earlier, Gurney had been with a gang – including Kieron Layton – who set upon Pawal Likos near the river Avon in Evesham.

Judge Andrew Plunkett told Gurney that “only by the grace of god” had he not been facing a murder charge. A surgeon concluded that Mr Gwynn’s injury could have been fatal. Luckily, he recovered after spending four days in hospital. The judge said if Gurney continued on his violent path he would be branded a public danger and locked up indefinitely.

Gurney, of Deacle Place, Evesham, was sentenced to two years and nine months custody.

He pleaded guilty to causing Mr Gwynn grievous bodily harm and admitted two assaults, causing actual bodily harm.

Layton, 21, of De Wyche Road, Wychbold, near Droitwich, admitted causing Mr Likos actual bodily harm. He was given nine months jail, suspended for 18 months, and warned not to follow Gurney’s ways if he wanted to avoid jail in the future. Mr Gwynn and Mr Green were attacked at 2.30am in November last year, said Mr Shakoor.

Mr Green needed 10 stitches in a head wound and spent a night in hospital. Mr Likos was sitting by the river in August last year when the two defendants asked him for a cigarette.

He handed over cigarettes and alcohol but was then attacked by a group. A 15-year-old youth hit him with a tree branch before he was repeatedly kicked and punched on the ground. He suffered head, back, chest, stomach, arm and leg injuries. Police found Gurney’s DNA profile on a discarded cigarette butt.

The judge said Mr Likos, a Polish immigrant, had shown his attackers kindness before the unprovoked assault.

Adam Western, for Gurney, said the offences were committed when he was in drink. He denied a probation report that assessed Gurney as “enjoying the notoriety” of carrying out crime. Neal Williams, for Layton, conceded he was involved in an ugly incident but pointed out that he had no previous convictions for violence.