A 36-YEAR-OLD Bradford Council refuse worker has been jailed today for eight months after admitting his part in a late-night attack on two women which took place in a city centre takeaway.

Mark James, of North Avenue, Manningham, visited the Dixy Chicken takeaway in Morley Street with colleague Barry Smith and his wife, when the attack happened.

Prosecutor Duncan Ritchie said Christina Smith and Kelly Mullen began chatting to the group at the takeaway, but were subjected to verbal abuse.

Mr Ritchie described how James kicked the back of Miss Smith's chair, with Smith hitting her, James pushing her back over a chair, and Smith then kicked her in the face as she was trying to get up.

Subsequently James pushed or struck Miss Mullen, and grabbed Miss Smith's handbag as she lay on the floor before running out of the takeaway. When it was recovered there was £30 missing from it.

James pleaded guilty to affray and theft and was told by Judge Robert Bartfield at Bradford Crown Court that he had robbed Miss Smith of what little dignity she had left that night by taking her handbag.

Nigel Jamieson, for James, said the defendant had been receiving help for his alcohol problems that had blighted his life and that he had lost pretty much everything.

Smith was jailed for four years at the end of last month after pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent.