Men sentenced for violent attack in Belfield

Date published: 29 June 2007

Three men have been sentenced (Friday 29 June) after attacking a man during a feud between two families. Patrick Lynch (born 07/09/76) from Heatley Road, Milnrow and Stephen Horridge (born 04/11/76) from Belton Avenue were sentenced to four years imprisonment. Patrick Cooke (born 23/11/86) from The Cray, Milnrow was given a 51-week sentence suspended for two years with a supervision order.

The men were found guilty of Section 18 assault following a seven-day trial at Bolton Crown Court on Tuesday 22 May.

At about 9pm, Saturday 17 June 2006, the 25-year-old victim and his 37-year-old brother were walking through Belfield housing estate when they saw Cooke at the bottom of the lane at the back of Belton Avenue. Cooke gestured them towards him for a fight and the brothers ran towards him.

Cooke ran to a house at the top of Belton Avenue looking for his friends, but as he could not find them, he ran into the house and into the back garden. The brothers chased him and a fight broke out with Cooke and the younger brother.

Horridge and Lynch then arrived and the 25-year-old saw Horridge coming towards him swinging a baseball bat. Horridge hit him with the bat on his legs and head. Lynch also started hitting him with what was described as a black stick or machete.

Cooke joined in again and started hitting the victim with a three-foot piece of wood to the backs of his legs causing him to fall to the ground. The victim knelt on the floor with his hands over his head asking the men to stop.

The offenders ran from the scene.

As a result of the attack, the victim had cuts to the top of his head and either side of his chest which all required stitches. He also fractured his finger and bruised his legs.

He went to Rochdale Infirmary for treatment.

Cooke, Horridge and Lynch were arrested and charged.

Detective Constable Ian Fear who carried out the investigation said: "What began as a feud between two families escalated into a brutal and violent attack on the victim.

"The men used weapons in the attack causing various injuries to the victim including a number of cuts, one of which required 17 stitches.

"We are pleased with the sentence and hope the families will both realise that enough is enough and put an end to their disputes."