A COUPLE who carried out an attack that left a man with life-changing injuries and unable to work have been jailed today.

John Whitby, who was 36 when he was attacked, had to undergo emergency brain surgery and spent more than seven months in hospital following the attack in April 2020. He is not expected to work again as a plasterer.

Catherine Mary Jones from Stourport Close, Romiley, Stockport, pleaded guilty to section 20 assault on May 14, 2021.

Joel Lloyd Hall of Wardle Close, Stretford, originally pleaded guilty to section 18 assault on May 14, 2021 but then tried to change his plea. His guilty plea was confirmed at a hearing at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on September 23, 2021.

They were jailed today at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

Hall was jailed for 11 and a half years and Jones for 30 months.

Detective Constable Jane Naylor, of GMP's Major Incident Team, said: "This was an unprovoked and brutal attack that has had a devastating effect on the victim and his family."

Police were called to Moss Road, Stretford, at about 6.30am on Saturday April 18, 2020 to reports a man was being assaulted by a man and a woman outside the house.

Jones and Hall punched and kicked the victim in the street after a night drinking together. Witnesses then saw the pair carry Mr Whitby back into the house.

Mr Whitby's partner found him in bed, unresponsive and covered in vomit, and she called an ambulance, after which he underwent surgery to relieve a bleed on the brain and was put on a ventilator.

He then spent the next seven months in hospital, finally being released in November 2020.