A man attacked a driver inside his own car in a ‘shocking’ and ‘unprovoked’ assault.
Kyle Binns, 18, pulled up alongside the man in the front passenger seat of a black car in Rochdale.
The victim, a 26-year-old man, was driving down Halifax Road when he had stopped outside a taxi rank on February 15 this year at around 12.30pm.
Pulling up alongside him, Binns, also of Rochdale, shouted something at the man, who then wound his car window down in order to hear him.
Getting out of the car, Binns then walked round to the driver’s window and began punching the man repeatedly, hitting the side of his head several times.
Another man joined him, opening the driver’s side of the door, and also began assaulting the man.
The unknown man then returned to the black car, followed by Binns shortly after, and both left the scene.
However, Binns had unknowingly dropped his phone, which was picked up by the victim and handed to the police to assist with their investigation.
During the attack the victim was punched and kicked a number of times in what police have described as a ‘sustained assault’.
He was left with significant facial bruising to his jaw, and a cut above his eye.
He also sustained bruising to chest and body, and a large dent was also left on the driver's side door, which wasn't there prior to the attack
Pleading guilty to assault, Binns was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment at Manchester Crown Court.
He also pleaded guilty to criminal damage, possession of class B drugs, and escaping lawful custody.
The investigation was led by the Rochdale Neighbourhood Task Force as part of Operation Barracuda, which targets car crime within the Rochdale and surrounding areas in conjunction with Lancashire Police, investigating the theft of Ford vehicles in particular, as well as work vehicles and the theft of tools.
Inspector Andy Fern from the Rochdale Neighbourhood Task Force, said: "This was a shocking, unprovoked attack on a busy road in broad daylight, that left the victim with significant facial bruising.
"I want to thank the victim for coming forward and assisting with our investigation, and hope that seeing Binns put behind bars provides a sense of comfort.
"There is no place for violence within our community, and I also hope this provides some reassurance to the people of Rochdale that GMP will do all it can to bring those who believe they are above the law to justice.
Binns, of Rooley Moor Road, has also been ordered to pay £200 to the victim in compensation.
