A man who kicked and stamped on his sister's boyfriend before leaving him outside overnight in freezing temperatures has been jailed for more than 10 years.
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Monday (September 28) that Richard Phoenix inflicted a 'devastating' brain injury upon Lewis Edwards in the early hours of January 4 last year. Instead of summoning assistance, Phoenix abandoned his victim outside for more than five hours, ate a pack of pork scratchings and went to bed, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Attack and abandonment
Lewis Edwards sustained a bleed on the brain and hypothermia, spending weeks in a coma and four months in hospital. He now requires 24/7 care, with his family saying his life has been ruined.
The court heard that Phoenix, his sisters and Lewis Edwards, the then partner of one of his siblings, went out for a meal on the evening of January 3 last year before visiting a pub. Edwards was said to have had an argument with his girlfriend, leading to him and Phoenix returning to the latter's home on Robin Way in Woodchurch, Wirral.
Sarah Holt, prosecuting, described how CCTV showed the two drinking together in a garden pub in the early hours of January 4, having been "appearing to get on well" in footage timed at 1.57am. No further footage was then captured until 3am, when Mr Edwards was seen lying motionless on the floor.
Victim's injuries and family impact
Phoenix was meanwhile captured urinating next to the outbuilding and eating a pack of pork scratchings. The 39-year-old only called 999 shortly before 8.30am, around 20 minutes after discovering his injured victim when he awoke later the same morning.
Paramedics arrived at the scene to find Mr Edwards unresponsive with a "swollen and bloodied" face, having sustained two black eyes and a large cut to the back of his head. He was treated for hypothermia after being taken to Aintree Hospital and intubated and placed in an induced coma, having suffered a bleed on the brain.
He remained in a coma and on a ventilator before eventually being discharged in April. Doctors found that his brain injury had been caused by "high energy blunt force trauma", with the blows having been inflicted with a "significant degree of force".
Ms Holt added: "There is clear evidence that Lewis had in fact been kicked or stamped on repeatedly by the defendant. He is still receiving treatment and it may be that he never recovers."
Mr Edwards was able to remember "nothing of the attack" when interviewed by Merseyside Police in June of this year. But the dad-of-two told detectives that he would be left with lifelong brain damage.
Family speaks out
Jodie Wardle, the mum of Mr Edwards' children, detailed in a statement which was read to the court: "I feel like his carer more than his partner. He requires 24/7 care.
"Lewis goes to bed at 8pm every night exhausted and wakes at 8am. By 9am, he's tired and has to go back bed for another three hours.
"He won't leave the flat as he is scared that something will happen and he could be attacked again. He gets upset because he can't do every day life things.
"He is physically weak and has been told that he can't pick up or hold his children as he could drop them. Lewis isn't allowed out on his own. He never deserved any of this. It's like having an extra child.
"To Richard Phoenix, you have completely destroyed Lewis' life. It is heart-breaking to see our children unable to enjoy a full life with their dad and do all the normal things that a parent should be able to do."
Mr Edwards' mum Lesley Collins meanwhile added in her own statement: "When I look at Lewis, it makes me cry. He will never get answers why this man did this to him."
Phoenix has no previous convictions and was heard to be of 'previous good character'. Clare Ashcroft, defending, told the court that Phoenix remembers 'nothing after' the exchange in the garden bar.
"He has committed this offence in circumstances which would appear unexplainable," she said. "Mr Phoenix is now strongly against the consumption of alcohol in any great volume. He understands the significance of the injuries that the jury found, and he accepts, he inflicted on Lewis Edwards. He is doing what he can. There is genuine remorse, accompanied by insight."
'Nobody knows exactly what happened'
Phoenix was unanimously found guilty of wounding with intent by a jury following a trial. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a blue Under Armour t-shirt, he was jailed for 12 years.
Sentencing, Judge Louise Brandon said: "Nobody knows exactly what happened. You claimed Mr Edwards went for you and you defended yourself. The jury did not believe that.
"Neither you nor Mr Edwards appeared unduly drunk. Mr Edwards could be seen motionless on floor. You could not be seen helping him in any way. You closed the garden pub up and you took yourself off to bed, leaving him seriously injured on the floor in winter.
"The scene met police and paramedics was horrific. There was blood and broken glass on the walls and floor. The injuries that Mr Edwards received were extensive and serious. I am sure that you repeatedly stamped or kicked on his head.
"He needs help with all his daily tasks. Ms Wardle has described that she has become a carer for the man she loves and says that this attack has completely destroyed Mr Edwards' life.
"There can be no doubt that whatever happened that night was completely out of character for you. You were a hard working man. That has continued during your remand into custody. There is some insight.
"This is a tragic case. There are lives on both sides that have been ruined by your actions. Mr Edwards' life will never be the same, and you have ruined your own life."
