[A] man who turned on his friend and subjected him to a sustained attack over a number of hours has today been jailed for 10 years.
Jordan Smith, 25, of Jacktrees Road, Cleator Moor, carried out the attack which, at times, involved a baseball bat and a glass bottle.
Smith was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court after he admitted a charge of grievous bodily harm with intent.
The court heard how Smith and the victim were at a mutual friend’s home in High Street, Cleator Moor, drinking in the early hours of 26 August 2017 when Smith suddenly, and without provocation, turned violent.
Smith began to attack the victim with a bat before punching, kicking and stamping on the injured man.
The attack continued with Smith jumping off a table to further stamp on the victim’s head. He also attacked whilst armed with a vodka bottle.
The assault was carried out over a number of hours until Smith fell asleep and the victim was able to escape the property.
He collapsed in the doorway of a nearby takeaway at around 7.50am, bleeding profusely and suffering numerous injuries.
A consultant who helped to treat the injured man at West Cumberland Hospital described the injuries as consistent with a severe beating over three or four hours.
Injuries sustained included a fractured skull, a fractured cheek bone and numerous stab wounds to his legs.
In the consultant’s view, the victim was fortunate to survive the attack.
Smith refused to answer all questions in his police interview but admitted the offence at court.
Detective Constable Debi Gilmour said: “This was a sustained and vicious attack where the victim had no opportunity to defend himself.
“The damage inflicted could easily have ended up costing the victim his life, were he unable to escape the property and seek help.
“I hope today’s sentence shows how seriously both the police and the courts take such violent offending.”
