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A dad led a horrifying vigilante attack on a man he thought had stolen his son’s bicycle, leaving him brain damaged.

Steven Pritchard, 37, arranged to meet 20-year-old Alex Dwyer after finding out he was advertising a bicycle on the Gumtree website that he thought belonged to his son.

On June 12 burly Pritchard went with two mates to Dunluce Street, Walton, to meet the younger man, after pretending he wanted to buy the bike, and subjected him to savage attack which left him fighting for his life.

Edmund Haygarth, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court how a witness described what happened.

He said: “Three large very stocky individuals who looked like doormen were kicking and punching Mr Dwyer.

“She heard a young man’s voice asking them to stop. Then he went silent.”

The witness described them turning to leave after putting the bike in a van but one said: “Give him another one lad.”

He said: “One of them returned to where Mr Dwyer would have been lying prone on the floor and stamped down really hard.

“She describes hearing a sickening thud and then the other two men returned from the van and kicked him once again. There was blood everywhere.”

Police inquiries led them to Pritchard, a dad-of-three, who later pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent but refused to name his accomplices.

Judge Clement Goldstone, QC, asked if Alex Dwyer really had stolen the bike and was told if he had been well enough to be interviewed about it he would have been, but after the attack he was too ill.

The court heard he suffered a blood clot on the brain leading to reduced attention, memory, planning and insight and mild language impairment.

He faces future operations to repair his skull which had to be partly removed.

Although he did not remember the attack the qualified builder said in a statement that he was no longer the person he used to be.

Dan Travers, defending, said Pritchard, of Ferndale Close, Orrell Park, was expecting his fourth child and had ruined the lives of both families.

Judge Goldstone, said: “I’m quite satisfied this defendant and his two side kicks went to the scene to give Mr Dwyer a good kicking. That, sadly, is what he got.

“I take the view this was a premeditated attack leading these two men in a vigilante attack in pursuit of a stole pedal cycle.

“The recovery of the pedal cycle became something of an afterthought.

“There is no place in what passes for a civilised society for vigilante attacks.”

He jailed Pritchard for seven and half years.

Speaking after the case Detective Sergeant Lee Wilkinson said: “Steven Pritchard is today starting a long prison sentence after committing a truly brutal assault against a young man. The sentence reflects just how serious the assault was, which left the victim fighting for his life.

“The 20-year-old victim survived the assault but has been left with life-changing injuries – the assault was that serious. The victim has shown real bravery in assisting police with the investigation and I hope he can take some comfort in Pritchard’s sentencing.

“I would also like to thank the officers involved in the case for their support throughout this investigation which was supported by the Crown Prosecution Service.

“This remains an open investigation as we believe there were two other people involved in the assault. I would like to appeal to anyone with information about the incident, or information about the other two people involved, to call police.

"This type of behaviour has no place on the streets of Merseyside and today’s sentence reflects just how seriously assaults of this nature are treated by the authorities.

“Anyone with information can either call detectives on 0151 777 4065 or they can provide information through Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”