POLICE have welcomed the sentencing of a man for an attack which left his victim blind in one eye - saying he is "now where he belongs - behind bars".

Liam Boulton, 24, of Pendle Avenue, Blackbrook was given a 12-year sentence on Wednesday (November 14) at Liverpool Crown Court, which includes a nine-year custodial sentence and a further three years on licence.

Kenny Miller, aged 45, was left blinded in one eye after the attack near a taxi office in St Helens town centre on Friday, July 27.

Boulton launched a "sustained" attack on Mr Miller, which knocked his victim unconscious before deliberately stamping on his face.

Boulton admitted to grievous bodily harm with intent last month.

He carried out the attack while on bail after he admitted to an actual bodily harm assault on a teenager which took place in January 2017.

A judge branded Boulton's attack on Mr Miller as a “brutal act of savagery".

Reacting to the sentencing today, Detective Constable Ashley Chana said: "We welcome the fact that Boulton is now where he belongs - behind bars.

"Anyone using this level of violence runs the risk not only of ruining their own life and being deprived of their liberty, but most importantly causing life-changing injuries such as this.

"I want to pay tribute to the victim who is making a steady recovery, but will live with the physical and emotional impact of this incident for the rest of their life."

Read our full report from court here.