LINVAL Nicholson has been jailed for attacking a Good Samaritan in a late night assault in the town centre.

The 22-year-old and a friend savagely beat their victim with an advertising hording before raining punches and kicks on him as he lay on the ground.

But while 20-year-old Anthony Gregorace escaped a jail term after a court heard how he had turned his life around Nicholson had not done enough to keep his freedom.

At an earlier hearing the court was told how the friends set upon Jean Menade on Canal Walk in the early hours of Sunday, February 15.

The passer-by had stepped in to help when he saw Nicholson hit out at his girlfriend during a row.

Tim Evans, prosecuting, said: "The victim told Nicholson that he did not have to hit a woman. The woman replied that it was a domestic. Nicholson then pushed the man to the floor where he was repeatedly kicked."

Gregorace then lunged at the victim with the advertising sign before flying in with kicks and punches.

Mr Menade eventually fled from his attackers and was comforted by passers-by until paramedics and police arrived.

He was taken to Great Western Hospital where he received treatment for cuts and bruises.

Images from a closed circuit television system, which clearly caught the attack, were shown to the court.

Andrew Hobson, defending both the men, described the video footage as 'distressing' but said Gregorace was the main attacker.

"Both of these young men went out with the intention of enjoying themselves and freely admit to having drunk too much," he said.

"The violence seems to have stemmed from the fact that Mr Menade did not like seeing the domestic argument.

"Although this was a joint enterprise, Nicholson's involvement was significantly less than Gregorace's.

"Nicholson admits that he kicked Mr Menade but he played no part in the acquisition or the administering of the sign board.

"Nicholson expresses a limited amount of remorse but he is a man who finds it hard to articulate himself."

At an earlier hearing both men were told that if they kept out of trouble for the next four months they could then escape a custodial sentence.

Judge Tom Longbotham also told them to save £300 each to pay as compensation to the victim.

Gregorace, of Bruce Street, and Nicholson, of Ripon Way, both pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm.

However Nicholson failed to turn up for sentencing and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

When he was brought before the court in custody Mr Hobson said that his client was full of remorse for what happened and had stopped going out at night in the town centre because of it.

He said that he had saved up the £300 but had spent it and loaned some of the money to a friend.

Jailing him for six months Judge Tom Longbotham said "You had a chance. "If you don't take that chance it makes a mockery of the chance you were given.

"You didn't take it, so to prison you will go."

Tina Clarke