TWO years after an assault which put a man in a coma and left him suffering headaches and with no sense of smell or taste, his attacker has avoided prison.

Now the family of 48-year-old Paul Gahan have been left furious after his attacker was handed a 20-month suspended sentence.

Qasab Ali, aged 26, got into an altercation with Mr Gahan in Bradshawgate in August, 2016.

Ali struck Mr Gahan, knocking him to the ground where he hit his head on the kerb.

Mr Gahan spent 12 days in hospital as a result of his head an neck injuries and Manchester Crown Court was told that he now suffers recurring headaches and mood swings; has been left without a sense of taste or smell; and has struggled with his family life and his work as a roofer.

When asked if she felt justice had been achieved, Mr Gahan’s wife, Debra, said: “No absolutely not, it’s made me feel angry at the system. He’s been found guilty and he’s walked away. Even a short jail sentence would have been something, it’s better than nothing at all.

“He’s been left with a disability for the rest of his life and this man has been able to walk free.”

Mr Gahan’s father Thomas agreed that any non-suspended prison sentence would have represented justice for the family. I think it’s a farce, if that’s justice I will never be anywhere near a court again in my life.

“He nearly killed him and he won’t get jailed.”

He added: “I don’t think we have got any closure now it will affect us all for the rest of our lives.

“If they just said he had three months imprisonment we would be happier.”

Judge Elizabeth Nicholls took into account the fact that Ali had given himself in to police when he heard they were looking for him and that he could have believed he was acting in “excessive self-defence”.

While she took into account the extremely serious consequences that the punch had caused to Mr Gahan, Judge Nicholls was clear that Ali had “no intention to cause serious injury”.

She also spoke of the defendant’s family, reading a letter sent from his wife and discussing the man’s parents who live in a home across the road and who he drives to their doctor’s appointments. In addition, the judge mentioned the child that the family have on the way, which Ali would likely be the main carer for, as his wife is expected to return to full-time work.

Addressing Ali, she said: “This was a monumentally stupid action that has had a profound impact both on the victim and yourself.”

She added: “The trauma of this incident lives with his family and will remain with his family for many years to come. No conviction or sentence that I can pass will take away that trauma.”

In addition to the suspended sentence, Ali, of College Street, Accrington, received an order to complete 150 hours of unpaid work after he pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm at an earlier hearing.

In October, 2016, Mr Gahan’s family, friends and Bolton’s biker and scooter communities came together in a show of support for the injured man.

More than 100 riders set off from the University of Bolton Stadium ­— then known as the Macron ­— and travelled to the Bolton Ukrainian Club, in Castle Street, alongside scores of well-wishers turn up.