A MAN who kicked, stamped and punched another man during a fight outside a Keighley night club has been jailed - more than 12 years after the offence.

Benjamin Wooton failed to turn up at court to be sentenced in 2003 and Bradford Crown Court heard today he was only arrested earlier this week when he came back from the Republic of Ireland to attend his father's funeral.

Wooton, 31, was only 19 when he carried out the vicious and sustained assault, and his barrister said he was now a very different man.

Prosecutor Ken Green said a fight broke out, in the early hours of Saturday, November 9, 2002, outside Oscar's night club, in Worthway, Keighley.

The cause appeared to be an allegation by a co-accused that the complainant had "touched up" his girlfriend.

The co-accused armed himself with a steel wrench, and although the complainant got the better of the fight, he was struck with the wrench.

Wooton, who was then living at Bingley Road, Baildon Moor, joined in, twice kicking the victim in the head as he was bent over. He kicked him twice more to the head while he was on the ground, and again as he got up.

The victim tried to stagger away but was punched several times to the ground by Wooton, who continued the attack, kicking him in the face, stamping on his head, and finally delivering two full force kicks to the head, Mr Green said.

The victim was able to get up and run off. He refused to co-operate with police and the extent of his injuries was not known.

Wooton and his co-accused were arrested shortly after.

Wooton, who was on licence for robbery at the time, then failed to attend court to be sentenced in 2003.

In mitigation, his barrister, Jon Gregg, said Wooton, who pleaded guilty to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, had matured and grown up. He had worked hard for three separate companies in Ireland, had a six-year-old son and had not been in serious trouble.

Jailing him for 15 months, Judge Peter Benson, said it was clear it was a vicious attack and a sustained assault using a shod foot.

Judge Benson said: "Anybody who kicks someone repeatedly must expect an immediate custodial sentence of some length."

But he said he took into account that the defendant had matured and kept clear of serious trouble.

He sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment, with a further three months for failing to surrender to his bail.