A COUPLE were beaten with a baseball bat and left for dead after they asked a neighbour to mend a hole in their garden fence, a court heard.
Stan Foster and Eileen Brooks are still suffering from the vicious attack [CAVENDISH PRESS]
When they asked again in April for the taxi driver to take action after their dog escaped through the hole, Shafiq snapped, the court heard.
After saying “one minute”, he returned with a baseball bat and hit Mr Foster up to five times round the head, even when he was on the ground.
Shafiq, 22 – who was jailed for 10 years for the brutal assault – also smashed former care worker Miss Brooks in the face as she tried to protect her partner.
Mohammed Tabib Shafiq was jailed for 10 years after attacking his neighbours with a baseball bat [CAVENDISH PRESS]
Shafiq should have been given life, it’s a miracle Stan is still alive
Eileen Brooks
Miss Brooks’s jaw was broken. Mr Foster, in a medically induced coma for four months, is now paralysed on his left side and can never work again. Miss Brooks needed four plates and 14 screws in her jaw and is in constant pain.
Shafiq, a father of one, pleaded guilty at Bolton Crown Court to two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent but claimed “self defence” in mitigation.
Miss Brooks said yesterday: “Shafiq should have been given life, it’s a miracle Stan is still alive.’’
Judge Peter Davies said: “This assault was brutal and disturbing.
“Mr Foster had injuries that could have been fatal.”