Two drunks have been jailed for carrying out a violent drunken attack on a homeless man as he was sleeping rough.
Iain Ferries and Neville Kirwan targeted the vulnerable 29-year-old victim in the early hours of the morning as he slept under the Dark Arches, beneath Leeds railway station.
Ferries was jailed for four years and Kirwan for three years, four months yesterday after pleading guilty to robbery and other unrelated offences.
Leeds Crown Court was shown CCTV footage of the vicious attack, which took place at 2.50am on July 15 last year.
The victim, a Polish national,awoke to find Ferries standing over him demanding money.
Kirwan was stood behind Ferries and they both became aggressive towards the victim.
The victim was punched and kicked during the struggle and was left heavily bleeding from facial wounds.
Kirwan and Ferries walked off after taking the man’s wallet.
Police were alerted as a result of the incident being caught on camera and both men were arrested later that morning.
Kirwan told officers he had previously had an argument with the victim and attacked him as he had been “gobby.”
Ferries said he had been drinking heavily before the attack and they used the cash taken in the robbery to buy another can of alcohol.
When he was shown footage of the attack he said: “Jesus Christ. It is sick. I am ashamed of myself.”
Kirwan, of Edinburgh Grove, Armley, also admitted offences of having a bladed article and public disorder.
Ferries, of Holdforth Gardens, Armley, also pleaded guilty to two offences of theft, possession of cannabis and two breaches of a community order.
Richard Gioserano, for Ferries, said his client had been genuinely shocked and full of remorse when he realised he was capable of attacking someone in that way.
Kara Firth, for Kirwan, said her client had been living a lonely and isolated existence for a number of years. The offence was a result of him drinking heavily.
Judge Rodney Jameson, QC, said: “This was a robbery of a vulnerable person in which both defendants played a significant roles.”