Thug jailed over violent street attack on woman

Brenden Kennedy was locked up for 27 months over the attack in which he turned violent because he was a refused a lift home.

Leeds Crown Court heard Kennedy was walking home from the pub in the early hours of November 22 last year when he saw a car pull up in Verner Street, Featherstone

Ben Thomas, prosecuting, said people in the car had been to a wedding and the vehicle had stopped to drop one of the passengers off.

Kennedy knew some of the people in the car and tried to force his way into the vehicle but was told there was not enough room.

The father-of-one then punched the victim before dragging her out of the vehicle.

He then struck her head against the ground three or four times and punched her to the face twice more.

He then began to walk away but returned and punched her again to the face.

Jailing Kennedy, judge Geoffrey Marson, QC, said: “It is perfectly obvious that you intended to cause more serious injury than was caused.”

The victim was left with black eyes and bruising to her face which remained for months and she was unable to work.

Kennedy, of Huntwick Crescent, Featherstone, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm .

Kennedy received a six year sentence in 2008 for causing death by careless driving while over the drink drive limit. He was more than twice the limit and had traces of cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy in his blood when he ploughed into a lamppost in a stolen van, causing the death of his 20-year-old passenger.

He was given a further six year sentence in 2012 for wound with intent.

He was out of prison on licence when he committed his latest offence.

A month before the attack oin the woman he had completed a “thinking skills programme”.

Judge Marson said: “It had little or no affect on your behaviour.

“You know this offence is a serious one and is against a background of a terrible record.”