Women 'viciously' punched and kicked for simply asking a man 'have you got a lighter?'

Shocking pictures have revealed the horrendous injuries a woman suffered after she asked a man for a lighter on a night out.

James Patrick Jones, of Torrington Drive, Halewood , brutally attacked two women on December 29, 2018, in an unprovoked act of violence, police said.

The 27-year-old was today jailed for two years and three months for the "vicious" assault.

Cheshire Police said Jones launched into an attack at the Chambers Pub, in Runcorn , and beat his victims after they approached him and a woman he was with for a lighter.

The two Runcorn victims, aged 32 and 33, were refused a lighter by Jones. He then became aggressive.

Police said: "He repeatedly punched them before kicking one of the women whilst she was lying on the ground.

"Jones then fled the scene."

James Patrick Jones was jailed on Monday (Cheshire Police)

Both women were left with facial injuries, with one of them needing hospital treatment.

Police Constable Stuart Beswick, who led the investigation into the incident of behalf of Runcorn Local Policing Unit, said: “I am delighted that Jones is now behind bars facing the consequences of his actions.

“The victims had been enjoying a night out when he subjected them to a vicious and unprovoked assault.

“The frightening incident understandably left them both extremely shaken up.

“It also left them with facial injuries, with one of the victims having suffered extensive bruising.

One of Jones' victims has bravely shared pictures of her injuries (Cheshire Police)

“The consequences of this incident could have been far worse, and with it having been captured on CCTV Jones was left with little choice but to plead guilty to the assaults.”

On top of the custodial sentence, Jones was banned from going to the Runcorn pub for two years and ordered to pay a £170 victim surcharge.

PC Beswick added: “This kind of behaviour is totally unacceptable and I would like to reassure members of the public that the strongest action possible will be taken against those who commit this type of crime.

“I hope the sentence that has been handed down via the courts deters others from committing similar crimes and that it provides some closure for the victims and enables them to move forward with their lives.”