Man jailed over 'mindless' attack in Norwich
A man has been jailed for eight-and-a-half years for beating a man with a piece of wood and leaving him deaf in one ear and partially blind.
Kieron Hayden, 30, of Epsom, Surrey, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent to James Harrison, 20, of Palgrave, near Diss, Suffolk.
Norwich Crown Court heard that the attack took place in Prince of Wales Road, Norwich, on 3 April 2011.
Judge Peter Jacobs said it was an example of "mindless violence".
The attack was captured on CCTV.
The court heard that after a night out Hayden, of Court Farm Avenue, used a plank of wood to launch a brutal and unprovoked assault on Mr Harrison.
The attack left Mr Harrison in intensive care for a week and partially deaf, partially blind and with a broken nose.
Norwich Policing Commander Supt Paul Sanford said the sentence should serve as a warning for people who visit the city that violence will not be tolerated in the night time economy.
"Sadly this case demonstrates the extreme levels of violence regularly seen by officers on Prince of Wales Road and the necessity to reduce the early-morning availability of alcohol which often fuels such mindless attacks," he said.
"Thousands of people will be heading to the city this weekend and next to celebrate Christmas and the New Year. I hope this case serves as a timely reminder about the damaging consequences that consuming excessive amounts of alcohol can have."