Two men who carried out a brutal Workington house attack which left one victim partially blind and another in a persistent vegetative state have been given prison sentences totalling more than 42 years.
Carlisle Crown Court heard the two householders spent December 31 2021 together and exchanged new year messages with their respective children after midnight before falling asleep inside a Razia Court address.
Attackers Jamie Elston, 32, and David Ratcliffe, 33, were caught on CCTV forcing entry by smashing through the front door at around 3.30am. They had been drinking since dinnertime the day before and taken cocaine.
A prosecutor said little was known of the motive for violence other than each victim previously being in a relationship with past partners of the defendants. After the victims woke, Elston said to Ratcliffe: “Go get a knife. We might as well kill them now.”
They smashed the men’s mobile phones with a hammer before attacking them with kicks and punches to the head and body during ferocious violence. One victim later said: “I thought they were going to kill us.”
Elston vowed if the men reported the attack their parents’ houses would be burned down.
Violence then resumed before they left. Neighbours became concerned just before 9am, one seeing blood on the front door.
Police were called with officers locating blood spatter on the walls and one victim gurgling and unresponsive.
Ratcliffe was later found drunk, agitated and angry with bloodied clothing at another address. He also told an ex-girlfriend he had punched one man’s face in.
He and Elston were arrested by police and later admitted causing the men grievous bodily harm with intent on the basis that no weapons were used during their attacks on the men.
One victim was hospitalised with injuries which included a fractured nose, cut above the left eyebrow, multiple cuts inside the mouth and a swollen face. He was left permanently blind in one eye.
His friend was airlifted to hospital in Newcastle, put on life support and into an induced coma having suffered a severe, life-changing brain injury. He underwent surgery, needs total round-the-clock care with the latest update having been provided by a charge nurse.
Th court heard he is unable to speak but can blink when asked questions, uses colour-coded yes/no cards and remains nil by mouth.
Judge Ian Unsworth KC heard detailed statements about the profound impact on both men and their families, and also mitigation from the defendants’ barristers.
The judge jailed Elston, of Iredale Crescent, and Ratcliffe, Falcon Place, both Workington, for 21 years and 21 years seven months, respectively. Both were made subject to extended five-year licence periods and banned from contacting their victims for life.
Detective Chief Inspector Hayley Wilkinson, of Cumbria police, said after the sentencing hearing: “This was a violent and sustained attack which has resulted in extremely serious, life-changing injuries to both victims — one with permanent vision loss to one of their eyes and the other remains in a rehabilitation centre for his injuries.
“The actions of Ratcliffe and Elston could easily have resulted in loss of life that evening. However, the consequences of the assault continue to be felt to this day.
“The sentence of the court reflects the seriousness of the attack carried out by both men.”
