Two jailed for Shrewsbury attack that broke man's jaw

Joshua Jones, aged 24, suffered a fractured jaw after he was assaulted by Nathan Giles and Lewis Hough in May last year.

Yesterday the two men admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Giles, 25, of Shorncliff Drive, Shrewsbury, who the court heard was the instigator of the violence, was jailed for three-and-a-half years. Hough, 27, of The Crescent, Nesscliffe, was jailed for two years.

Judge Peter Barrie said they would both serve half of their sentence before being released on licence.

After hearing both men had been drinking the judge said: "Drink is no excuse for embarking on a savage attack."

Mr Robert Edwards, prosecuting, said Mr Jones had been out in Shrewsbury on May 20 and got into an argument with Giles.

"Giles punched Mr Jones in the face and the two defendants then kicked him repeatedly to the face and jaw as he rolled into a ball," Mr Edwards said.

When the two left Mr Jones made his way to a wall near St Alkmund's church and was cleaning himself up when Giles and Hough walked up and Giles attacked him again.

Mr Jones needed hospital treatment for cuts and bruises and a fractured jaw, and spent a month off work.

Mr Andrew Holland, for Giles, said he client was disgusted at what he had done, which was entirely out of character.

"He had been drinking and struggling to deal with the break up of his relationship. Something Mr Jones said pressed a button in his head," Mr Holland said.

He said he had been so worried about his loss of self control he had been to see his doctor who referred him for counselling.

Mr Ian Durrant, for Hough, said his client had not taken any part in the second attack. What he had done so shocked him he handed himself into police. "His remorse and shame are very genuine," Mr Durrant added.

Hough, who had epilepsy, had major surgery to remove tumours on his brain in January, Mr Durrant said.