A MAN who carried out a ‘vicious’ assault on a former work colleague he blamed for the loss of his job has narrowly avoided a prison sentence.

As a ‘direct alternative to custody’, Niam Parvaz was ordered by magistrates to carry out 100 hours unpaid work and will be the subject of a two month curfew.

Parvaz, 27, of Holmroyd Avenue, Holme Lane, Cross Hills, near Keighley, will also have to pay his victim Lucasz Jarosinski, who was unable to work for six months following the assault in Skipton, £500 in compensation.

Skipton Magistrates' Court heard on Friday that Parvaz and Mr Jarosinski had both worked at the Craven Nursing Home in Skipton and that Parvaz had blamed Mr Jarosinski for the loss of his job.

Mr Jarosinski had been outside The Paper shop in Shortbank Road on July 6 last year when Parvaz had got out of a car.

Parvaz had called out to Mr Jarosinski before carrying out the vicious and prolonged attack.

Witnesses wanted to intervene but were concerned for their own safety, the court heard. Parvaz continued to punch and kick Mr Jarosinski even after he crouched down and had told Parvaz he did not want to fight.

Parvaz was driven off while Mr Jarosinski, bleeding profusely, drove himself home where his partner called the police, the court heard.

In a victim statement read out in court, Mr Jarosinski said he had lost confidence in people, had been off work for six months, his mental and physical health had suffered, and he had not been able to go back to the shop close to where he had been assaulted.

He sustained multiple injuries to his face including a broken nose that needed surgery, and fractured ribs.

Parvaz, who admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, had no previous convictions, the court heard.

In mitigation, the court was told he was a family man, had a new job and that he was not likely to be back before the courts.

Magistrates told Parvaz he had carried out a vicious and prolonged assault that had resulted in two broken bones.

His 18 month community order includes up to 20 rehabilitation activity days, to address anger management and thinking skills, and 100 hours unpaid work, to be carried out after coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

He will also be curfewed for two months between 8pm and 5.30am, seven days a week, and will have to pay £500 compensation to Mr Jarosinski.