Paddock man starts 6-year sentence after hammer attack in Paddock

A MAN may lose one of his legs after being attacked by his gay lover with a claw hammer.

Stephen Kelly, of Wren Street, Paddock, has now started a six-year jail sentence for the attack.

But his victim, Paul Coombes, 56, faces many months of treatment to try and save his leg.

Kelly, 20, hit Mr Coombes, of Wakefield, so violently that he shattered one of his legs in three places.

Leeds Crown Court heard how Kelly told police he wanted to kill his lover after he was arrested after the attack in June.

In the horrendous assault he punched and kicked his lover, striking him with the claw hammer in the legs.

He then made off with his bank card, withdrawing £50.

Mr Coombes may have to have his leg amputated as a result of the attack at his city centre flat in Albion Street, Leeds.

Jonathan Sharp, prosecuting, told the court that Kelly had gone to live with Mr Coombes after his girlfriend kicked him out.

He said the two men had started a sexual relationship.

But Kelly began playing loud music, smoking cannabis and bringing girls back to the flat.

Mr Coombes finally asked him to leave when Kelly brought a 15-year-old girl back to the apartment.

Mr Sharp said: "Mr Coombes rang the police for help to evict the defendant but he was told it was a civil matter.

"The defendant heard that call and made sure he had an audience for what happened next."

The teenage girl Kelly had brought back was asleep so Kelly woke her up and told her to watch what he was going to do.

She watched as he threw Mr Coombes against the wall, then over the sofa, and punched him in the face.

Wielding a claw hammer Kelly asked if Mr Coombes wanted to be hit.

Mr Sharp said: "Mr Coombes begged him not to, but he hit him repeatedly in the head, kneecaps and legs, with enough force to break one of his legs in three separate places."

The Crown Court heard how Kelly told police he wanted Mr Coombes dead.

Kelly pleaded guilty to attempted murder.

Robin Frieze, defending, said the relationship between the two men had been ‘unusual’ and Mr Coombes had used Kelly to ‘his own advantage’. He said Kelly had a personality disorder and had shown ‘astonishing frankness’ when interviewed by police.

Kelly was sentenced to six years in jail.

The Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier QC, said Kelly had shown a ‘cold detached and callous’ attitude.