Drunken thug sent to jail

THREE drunks who beat up a defenceless man inside an Oldham nightclub have been given prison sentences.

Troy Lynch, Aaron Smith and Matthew Fogarty have also been banned from around 20 pubs and clubs within Oldham town centre for the next 18 months.

Their victim, 20-year old Matthew Tracy, had gone to the toilet at the Bamboogy Club in Yorkshire Street in June 2012 when he was attacked.

Sentencing the trio at Manchester Crown Court, Recorder Bernadette Baxter told them: “This was a disgraceful incident and a cowardly attack.”

All three had pleaded guilty to a single offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Lynch (22), who was said to have an “appalling” record, was in breach of a previous suspended sentence of 18 months, imposed for assaults on police officers. Recorder Baxter jailed him for six months, with an additional month for the breach.

Smith and Fogarty were each given six month sentences suspended for 12 months. Both were also ordered to carry out 50 hours of unpaid work in the community.

The victim was grabbed in a headlock by Smith, of French Avenue, Oldham, when he went to the toilet at the club. He at first believed it was a joke, but then Lynch and Fogarty entered and began hitting him.

When arrested, Lynch, of Turf Lane, Chadderton, blamed the other two.

Alison Heyworth for Lynch, said drink had been an issue, but he had recognised the problem and had been alcohol free for months.