A MAN suffered a stroke and was in a coma for three weeks after being attacked by two brothers, a court heard yesterday.

Frank Cheetham, who is in his 50s, was punched and allegedly kicked unconscious following an altercation with Aaron and Damon Fairhurst.

Witnesses told how Damon Fairhurst kicked his victim in the head while he was on the ground, leaving him unconscious in the street.

Mr Cheetham said that he could remember nothing about the attack, and that his last memory before he woke up in hospital three weeks later was of leaving the pub to get a Chinese takeaway.

He said that his health had been fine before the incident but that it had deteroriated since.

When arrested, Aaron Fairhurst alleged that Mr Cheetham had attacked them and that they had only defended themselves. They both denied kicking Mr Cheetham.

Damon Fairhurst, aged 22, of Hilton Avenue, Horwich, and his brother, Aaron, aged 20, of Vale Avenue, Horwich, are standing trial at Bolton Crown Court.

They are jointly charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent on

Frank Cheetham on May 7 last year. Both deny the charge.

Prosecuting, Richard Heap said that Mr Cheetham had been walking along the street when he became involved in an altercation with the Fairhurst

brothers.

One or both brothers were seen by a number of witnesses to punch their

victim and then kick him while he was on the ground.

Witnesses described how Mr Cheetham went limp and lay motionless on the ground after he was kicked in the head. Mr Heap also claimed that Mr Cheetham had suffered a stroke as a direct result of the attack.

(Proceeding)

A MAN suffered a stroke and was in a coma for three weeks after being attacked by two brothers, a court heard yesterday.

Frank Cheetham, who is in his 50s, was punched and allegedly kicked unconscious following an altercation with Aaron and Damon Fairhurst.

Witnesses told how Damon Fairhurst kicked his victim in the head while he was on the ground, leaving him unconscious in the street.

Mr Cheetham said that he could remember nothing about the attack, and that his last memory before he woke up in hospital three weeks later was of leaving the pub to get a Chinese takeaway.

He said that his health had been fine before the incident but that it had deteroriated since.

When arrested, Aaron Fairhurst alleged that Mr Cheetham had attacked them and that they had only defended themselves. They both denied kicking Mr Cheetham.

Damon Fairhurst, aged 22, of Hilton Avenue, Horwich, and his brother, Aaron, aged 20, of Vale Avenue, Horwich, are standing trial at Bolton Crown Court.

They are jointly charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent on

Frank Cheetham on May 7 last year. Both deny the charge.

Prosecuting, Richard Heap said that Mr Cheetham had been walking along the street when he became involved in an altercation with the Fairhurst

brothers.

One or both brothers were seen by a number of witnesses to punch their victim and then kick him while he was on the ground.

Witnesses described how Mr Cheetham went limp and lay motionless on the ground after he was kicked in the head. Mr Heap also claimed that Mr Cheetham had suffered a stroke as a direct result of the attack.

(Proceeding)