A DAD and son were beaten unconscious on the way home from a day out at Sunderland Airshow.
Thomas and David Surtees had been on a trip with relatives, including the family’s 86-year-old great-grandfather and a new baby, to watch the seafront displays when they were attacked without reason.
Newcastle Crown Court heard Thomas Surtees’ face and head were kicked and stamped on, leaving him with a serious nose injury which required surgery and may never be fully fixed.
His son David was punched and kicked and left covered in cuts and bruises.
Prosecutor Christopher Rose told the court the attackers had initially shouted abuse at the family before the violence started last July.
He said: “David recalls being kicked from behind. He was knocked to the ground and while on the floor he was kicked and punched until he lost consciousness. His father Thomas tried to intervene and he himself was attacked.
“He was either kicked or stamped to the face, and suffered a significant injury to his nose which involved the internal dorsal collapsing.”
Thomas Allen, of Wylam Grove, Hendon, admitted causing grievous bodily harm and assault.
The court heard he had Mr Surtees Snr’s blood on his shoes when he was arrested.
The 25-year-old also admitted causing grievous bodily harm to a woman, whose arm was broken when a brick was thrown at her, after violence flared in Borough Road after the Tyne-Wear derby in January.
Judge Roger Thorn sentenced him to a total of 32 months.
Stuart Halliday, 24, of Redwood Court, Sunderland, admitted affray on the basis he was with the group which carried out the attack on the Surtees family, but did not throw any punches or kicks.
He was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with probation supervision and programme requirements.
Judge Thorn said: “This was violence involving a group attack on a family unit, including a father and son, and more particularly a grandfather who was 86 and a young baby.
“There were women in that group. People are entitled to enjoy themselves and expect to have fun without any violence or apprehension of violence.
“This was the most disgraceful attack.”
Defence barristers said both men plan to stay out of trouble in future.
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