A WINSFORD man has been jailed for a violent attack on a group of drinkers in Northwich town centre.

One victim was left with a fractured skull and a permanent loss of taste and smell following the assault in Witton Street in the early hours of July 25, 2008.

Stephen O'Brien, 23, of Brierly Court, Winsford, was jailed for one year, while Craig Winnington, 21, of Fairfield Road, Northwich, was jailed for four years at Chester Crown Court last week.

O'Brien admitted causing grievous bodily harm, while Winnington had admitted causing grivous bodily harm with intent.

Prosecuting, Paul Smith, told how the attack came as the victims – who were from Lancashire and visiting the area for work – were waiting for a taxi after drinking in the Amber Lounge.

Winnington tried to entice one of the men into a fight and there was a brief scuffle before he decided to move on to another member of the group.

Mr Smith said: "The defendants' group passed them by and one of them was abusive to Sam Tagget, a member of the victims' group.

"Mr Winnington tried to entice Mr Tagget into a fight and there was a brief scuffle.

“Karl Gunter, a member of the victims' party, was returning to a bench when the incident flared up again.

"As he walked back he was struck by Mr O'Brien without warning and without Mr Gunter seeing it coming. He was punched to the floor and then kicked by more people. Some of the kicks were to his head and Mr Gunter lost consciousness briefly.

"The incident then moved on to Warren Ainsworth, another member of the victims' party. He was punched and knocked to the floor when two males repeatedly kicked him.

"One of these males was Mr Winnington, who was kicking Warren Ainsworth to the head. There was also stamping, but we do not know who did that."

The defendants then left the area and were shortly to be arrested by police.

Mr Gunter suffered a broken jaw and had to have titanium plates inserted but went on to make a full recovery.

Mr Ainsworth was not so fortunate and suffered a significant injury to his head including a fractured skull and bleeding around the brain.

The court heard how as a result he still suffers memory loss, headaches, fatigue, a difficulty ending words, a loss of libido, mood changes and social anxiety.

A plasterer by trade, he has not worked since the attack.

Mr Smith added: "He has also lost his sense of taste and smell forever.

"The effects of this will be felt all his life and he is still discovering symptoms."

He said that Winnington had 21 previous convictions for 29 offences and O'Brien had nine previous convictions for 15 offences.

The court was told that Winnington had lashed out because he had drank too much and his relationship had just broken down, and that O'Brien was ‘sincerely sorry’ for what he had done.

Sentencing Winnington, the Recorder of Chester Judge Elgan Edwards, said: "I have to deal with you for an awful piece of violence, during which you kicked the head of the unfortunate Mr Ainsworth.

"He skull was fractured and he has lost his senses of taste and smell.

"This act of thuggery occurred because you had had too much drink coming out of the Amber Lounge in Northwich.

"This is all too prevalent and will not be tolerated.

"People who behave in this way must realise that heavy sentences must be imposed."

Addressing O'Brien, he said: "You were involved, also, in an act of quite disgraceful violence and you kicked Mr Gunter and fractured his jaw."