A man was so viciously beaten he was left with the imprint of a boot on the side of his face, a court heard yesterday.

Paul Woodrow suffered multiple fractures to his face and body in the attack and now has to sleep in a special bed and use a motability scooter, Bradford Crown Court was told.

The perpetrators – Jason Chapman and Stephen Askey – were yesterday given custodial terms totalling nearly 20 years, as part of extended sentences.

Jailing them, Judge Peter Benson said it was a brutal and sustained assault on a vulnerable victim and the circumstances were horrific.

Prosecutor Clare Larton said the incident happened at a flat in Firethorn Close, Girlington, Bradford, on November 27 last year. Chapman, 23, and Askey, 26, who were alcohol abusers, were drinking with acquaintances at the flat when Askey suggested 55-year-old Mr Woodrow was having an affair with his girlfriend.

Judge Benson told Askey: “You attacked Mr Woodrow quite gratuitously, with no provocation, repeatedly punching him to the head. When he fell to the floor you repeatedly kicked him to the head and body.

“Chapman joined in, kicking and stamping, along with Askey. The victim was by this time motionless.”

The men then armed themselves with chairs which they used to strike Mr Woodrow to the head and body. Chapman then got a knife from the kitchen and threatened to cut off the victim’s ears.

When a witness tried to call for assistance, the phone was snatched from her.

The court heard Mr Woodrow suffered extensive injuries, including ten broken ribs and fractures to his collarbone, shoulder bone, jaw and cheekbone, and extensive bruising to his head and body. He was in hospital for a month.

Miss Larton said the victim was an alcoholic and had health problems which may or may not be related to that, or the assault. His hearing had been affected as a result of his head injuries.

The court heard Chapman had previous convictions for causing actual bodily harm, common assault, and robbery, which involved the use of violence including assaulting the victim while he was on the ground.

Askey had convictions for battery and causing grievous bodily harm.

Philip Ainge, representing Askey, said drink was the root cause of his client’s behaviour.

James Bourne-Arton, for Chapman, said that when his client was not in drink he could hold down employment and a stable relationship with his partner and two children.

Judge Benson sentenced Chapman, of Tonbridge Close, Buttershaw, Bradford, to ten years and nine months’ imprisonment, with an extended licence period of one year and three months.

Askey, of Northrop Close, Girlington, Bradford, was jailed for nine years with an extended three years on his licence.

After the sentence, Detective Inspector Neil Benstead, of Bradford District CID, said: “This was a serious assault which caused multiple injuries and left the victim with a foot mark on his face.

“We welcome the lengthy prison sentences and hope they will serve as a warning to anyone involving themselves in serious assaults, and in some way comfort the victim.”