Homeless man attacked by two teens in Bradford city centre

Denzel Swaby recorded the vicious attack on his phone while Simon Mushtaq laid into their victim who was sleeping rough in Hustlergate when he was set upon at ten o’clock at night.

The pair took pleasure in assaulting the vulnerable man who was trapped in his sleeping bag at the outset of the violence, Recorder Anthony Kelbrick said.

The man was sleeping near Lloyds Bank on Hustlergate. Picture: Google Street View (Image: Google Street View)

They could be heard laughing during and after the attack.

Mushtaq, 19, of Larwood Close, Ravenscliffe, Bradford, was sentenced to four years and four months in a young offender institution.

Swaby, 20, also of an address in Larwood Close, was locked up for three and a half years.

Both had pleaded guilty at earlier hearings to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.

Prosecutor Alisha Kaye said the homeless man was sleeping near Lloyds Bank in Bradford city centre when the defendants began punching and kicking him.

He was at first stuck in his sleeping bag unable to defend himself. He managed to get up but they followed him and he was struck in the face with a glass bottle until it smashed.

“It was a sustained attack which lasted a number of minutes,” Miss Kaye said.

A passer-by saw the tail-end of the assault which Swaby was recording on his phone. He then filmed the injuries to Mushtaq’s hands caused by the attack.

The phone recording was obtained by the police and played at Bradford Crown Court during the sentencing hearing.

The pair made no comment when questioned by the police.

The victim was treated at Bradford Royal Infirmary for extensive bruising and swelling to his face and head.

Miss Kaye said it was a prolonged and persistent assault with multiple kicks to the head and body.

Mushtaq had previous convictions for robbery and attempted robbery. Swaby had committed the robbery jointly with Mushtaq and had a conviction for threatening behaviour.

Abdul Shakoor said in mitigation for Mushtaq that he knew he was going to be locked up.

He was a youth at the time and of low intelligence. He had heightened anxiety because of previous attacks on himself and was likely to be vulnerable in custody.

Swaby accepted full responsibility for his actions. He was embarrassed by the film clips and very remorseful. He was 19 at the time and lacked maturity.

He now worked as a chef at a restaurant in Bradford and he helped to care for his grandmother and three younger siblings. He suffered with ADHD and was on medication for that.

Recorder Kelbrick said the homeless man was entitled to sleep on the streets of the city without being viciously attacked.

He was set upon with feet and a bottle and the defendants took pleasure in what they were doing, laughing during and after the attack.