Four thugs jailed for Ricky’s bar attack on Tony Schofield

Mar 10 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THEY carried out an unbelievably vicious attack on an innocent man.

And just minutes later, they laughed and joked as they played cards to “chill out”.

Now the vicious thugs behind the attack on Tony Schofield at Ricky’s Bar have been given jail sentences totalling more than 20 years.

Stroke victim Mr Schofield had been enjoying a quiet drink at his local pub in Leeds Road, Huddersfield, last July when he was confronted by 22-year-old Daniel Lockwood(pictured).

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday how Lockwood, of Spen Valley Road, Dewsbury, made allegations against Mr Schofield’s son, but the 54-year-old, who also suffers from epilepsy, ignored his remarks and eventually moved away to play on a gaming machine.

Lockwood and his friends then left the pub to plan their attack on Mr Schofield and CCTV equipment captured the moment when Lockwood and his accomplice, 24-year-old Jamie Wood (pictured below), “frogmarched” their victim outside.

Recorder Sandra Keen was shown the graphic footage of Mr Schofield, who was known to regulars as “Little Tony” because of his small stature, being forced to the ground where he was subjected to punches, kicks and stamps to his body and head.

As Mr Schofield lay severely injured on the ground two of the group, Daniel Mullins, 24, and 23-year-old Gareth Garside, threw their drinks over him before the gang fled the scene.

“Lockwood was the main protagonist,” said prosecutor Stephen Wood.

“He punched, kicked and stamped upon Mr Schofield. His punches were delivered with such force that he opened up a pre-existing injury to his hand, causing it to bleed.

“It must have been obvious to each of these defendants that Mr Schofield was seriously injured. Yet none of them sought to help in any way.

“The prosecution submit this was a joint attack by these four. There was a plan to bring Tony from the pub, to attack him and to give him a severe beating.”

Mr Wood said after the attack the men eventually met up at a house where they “chilled” by playing cards.

“They gave no thought to Mr Schofield at all,” said Mr Wood.

The court heard that a doctor described Mr Schofield’s injuries as life-threatening and he was transferred to an intensive care unit following his admission to hospital.

A paramedic said Mr Schofield had suffered “severe facial trauma” and his consciousness level at hospital was very low.