A VIOLENT gang-member who left a man for dead has been jailed for four years.

Stuart Peter Shaw, 20, of Bridge Street, was one of five thugs sent to prison after a violent attack in Rochdale town centre.

Bolton Crown Court heard that Shaw and the other defendants beat a 27-year-old victim until he was unconscious, during an incident on Yorkshire Street in March.

The victim, who was on his way home, came across the gang of youths, who began to argue with him. He pretended to use his phone to call for help to stop them from pursuing him.

The court heard that Gemma Stafford, 18, of Hilltop Drive, Kirkholt, led the group towards him as all five members followed.

All five then knocked him to the floor, punched and kicked him until he was unconscious, while Shaw continued to kick and stamp on the victim’s head as blood pooled around it. As Stafford stole cigarettes and money from the victim’s pockets, Shaw continued to kick his head and took one last running kick as the pair turned to leave.

Shaw was sentenced to four years after pleading guilty to section 47 assault and violent disorder. He told police he did not remember the attack or what happened before it, blaming alcohol for his memory loss.

Stafford was sentenced to 18 months after pleading guilty to violent disorder and theft – nine months for each charge to run consecutively.

Andrew Neil Harbourne, of Clever Street, Burnley, was sentenced to four years after pleading guilty to section 47 assault and violent disorder.

Joshua Paul McErlean, 19, of Bury Road, Rochdale, was sentenced to four years after pleading guilty to section 47 assault and violent disorder.

A 17-year-old male was sentenced to 18 months’ youth detention after pleading guilty to section 47 assault and violent disorder.

Shocking CCTV footage helped police to identify the culprits.

Detective Sergeant Lee Johnson, of Rochdale CID, said: “This was a vicious and unprovoked attack and it is only by sheer luck the victim wasn’t permanently injured. The ferocity of the blows to his head could have caused serious and lasting damage. Their actions were sickening to watch and it is mindless violence at its worst.”