Men jailed after man lost eye in Birmingham belt attack

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-30838589

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Two men who attacked a man with his own belt in a "savage" street assault in which he lost an eye have been jailed.

Simeon Evans was caught on CCTV whipping the victim with the metal buckle during the assault on Bristol Road in Birmingham last January.

Evans, 30, of Kempson Road, Bromford, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and was jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Jack Gargham, of Devon Road, Rubery, was jailed for four years, five months.

Gargham had denied the charge but was found guilty at an earlier trial ahead of sentencing on Wednesday at Birmingham Crown Court.

'Mindless violence'

West Midlands Police said the pair had been part of a group which got into an argument with the 32-year-old victim at about 06:00 GMT on 26 January 2014.

The victim pulled his belt from his trousers in a bid to defend himself, police said, but Evans snatched it from him.

When he tried to flee, Evans ran after him, eventually knocking him to the ground and whipping him repeatedly with the metal buckle.

Both men "began raining blows on [the victim]", police said, leaving him with "significant facial injuries".

Sophie Sheldon, 20, of Samsons Avenue, Gwent, who also participated in the attack, was handed a two-year suspended sentence with a six-month electronic tag curfew.

All three were arrested after police reviewed footage of the attack.

Det Con Chris Smith condemned the "mindless" attack as "over-the-top" and said the victim underwent several surgeries in a bid to save his left eye, but learned this would not be possible in March.