A violent thug left a teacher with a bleed on the brain after punching him in an alcohol-fuelled attack over a dropped mobile phone.
Aziel Sweeney knocked Stanley Partington to the floor after the two men bumped into each other just off Lord Street in Southport, causing Sweeney to drop his phone.
Liverpool Crown Court heard today that the 30-year-old left the music teacher, described as kind and mild mannered, with bleeding in and around his brain after he fell backwards and hit his head on the pavement following a punch to the face.
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Minutes later Sweeney assaulted Mr Partington's friend Seamus Riley and two members of the public who tried to step in to stop the violence in the early hours of September 25.
Sweeney, who has a string of convictions for violent offences stretching back more than a decade, admitted to the vile attack that left Mr Partington unable to work and with a range of health issues.
The court heard today that witnesses who saw the two men walk into each other saw Mr Partington attempting to apologise after the two bumped into each other on Neville Street just after midnight.
Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, said Sweeney became aggressive and demanded money from Mr Partington despite his phone appearing to be fine.
He then punched him in the face, knocking him unconscious as he hit the floor, before punching Mr Riley as well.
Two other men who saw the attack then attempted to intervene before being punched and kicked by Sweeney.
A scan then revealed Mr Partington suffered bleeding in, on and around both frontal lobes of his brain, though he did not require surgery.
He has not yet been able to go back to his job as a music teacher in the aftermath of the attack and could face months more time off.
His vision and memory were affected by the attack and he now suffers from headaches and mood swings.
His wife said in a statement provided to the court that Mr Partington's life had been upended by the attack.
Reading from Jane Partington's statement to the court, Mr Blasbery said: "She said she could not believe the defendant had assaulted the kindest and most mild mannered man.
"All his friends consider him to be a peacemaker who solves disputes between his friends and family."
He added: "She said it was hard to believe that one individual has caused so much distress to [her] family."
Mr Riley required some hospital treatment for a wound to his face but the two other men did not need medical help.
Simon Christie, defending, said Sweeney accepted his attack was "disgusting" and that it was driven by his alcohol problem.
Mr Christie said Sweeney, who has 14 previous convictions for violent offences, had largely committed those crimes due to drug and alcohol addictions that he was eager to address.
Mr Christie said: "The defendant has a lamentable record of violent offences.
"Behind all of them are an initial addiction to drugs in earlier years and, now, troubles with alcohol that helped fuel this case."
Mr Christie said he had a good record of engaging with programs aimed at addressing those issues and expressed remorse for what he called a "disgusting" attack.
The judge, Recorder Ian Unsworth, said the severity of the attack, as well as Sweeney's criminal record, meant he was a danger to the public and should be subject to an extended sentence.
He said: "This is the type of offence which comes far too often before the courts where people receive a catastrophic brain injury or are killed.
"Thankfully for Mr Partington, his injury does not appear to be as serious as it could have been.
"However, this has had a marked impact."
Sweeney pleaded guilty to one count of wounding, one count of inflicting actual bodily harm and two counts of common assault.
He was handed a four year jail term with a further two years on extended licence.
