Attack thug who 'destroyed' 80-year-old Leeds grandad's independence is jailed at Leeds Crown Court

Richard Flynn, 39, lay in wait outside his victim's home in the Scott Hall area of the city after an earlier argument with the pensioner he has known all his life, Leeds Crown Court was told.

Flynn covered his face with a mask, waited for the pensioner to return home and pushed him as he put his keys in he front door - telling the 80-year-old "I'm going to get you now."

Heather Gilmore, prosecuting, said Flynn repeatedly punched his victim during the attack in the doorway of the house on July 25.

Miss Gilmore said: "Her feared for his life and screamed as loud as he could."

A neighbour heard the commotion and saw the victim laid on the floor covered in blood.

She asked two passing men to stop Flynn leaving the scene and he was held until police arrived.

The pensioner suffered cuts to his head and bruises to his face and body.

The court heard the cuts on his head are taking a long time to heal, with one of them becoming infected and a nurse has to attend his home daily to change the dressing on it.

The pensioner, who suffers from headaches, flashbacks and nightmares, said in a victim statement: "The lack of sleep has really affected me. I used to do so much and now I have no energy to do anything. I feel so depressed."

The formerly independent pensioner said he is now unable to do things he enjoyed, including shopping, cooking, gardening, using his exercise bike and taking his grandchildren to school.

The victim wrote: "I have known him all his life and I know his family. can't understand why he has done this to me."

The court heard he now has to rely on his daughters to do his shopping.

Flynn, of no fixed abode, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.

Flynn has previous convictions dating back to 1997 for offences including theft, burglary and supplying class A drugs.

Stephen Smithson, mitigating, said Flynn also sustained injuries during the incident, including a fractured elbow and fractured ribs. and spent a week in hospital.

Mr Smithson said when Flynn's relationship breaks down he reverts back to drink and sometimes drugs.

Judge Penelope Belcher said Flynn's injuries were not caused by his victim.

Jailing Flynn for 16 months, Judge Belcher told him: "This is an elderly man whose independence has been destroyed - you crept up on him at his home and carried out this unprovoked and sustained, repeated assault."