The mother of Luke Brewer, who has been left needing round-the-clock care after he was savagely assaulted in a Brighouse park, thought her son would die from his injuries, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

In a moving victim impact statement, Lynne Appleyard said he had been left with no quality of life after the prolonged attack by Brian Marsden.

Marsden, 44, was jailed for 12 years for inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent on Mr Brewer in the park behind McDonald’s in Bradford Road on the afternoon of April 5.

Mr Brewer, who was on crutches awaiting a fifth hip replacement operation, was repeatedly kicked and punched to the head by Marsden as he lay unconscious on the ground.

Mrs Appleyard said she initially went through the trauma of believing her son would not survive his injuries. When he did, he had been left with no quality of life and it was likely to remain that way, she said.

She told of her terrible distress about what had happened to her son.

It had had an impact on her own well-being. She was not able to see him often because of the Covid restrictions and the thought of his suffering disrupted her sleep.