A man has been jailed for seven years after carrying out a "fearsome attack" on a defenceless grandfather, bludgeoning him repeatedly with a garden spade.

Robert Richardson, 40, attacked James Ward as he left his Bradford bedsit for work, hitting him so hard with the tool that it broke in half.

The frenzied assault left the 58-year-old labourer with horrific injuries including a fractured cheekbone, eye socket and forehead. He also suffered five fractures to his arms and needed more than 200 stitches and extensive plastic surgery to his face, head and arms.

Richardson, of Haycliffe Lane, Little Horton, pleaded guilty at Leeds Crown Court to grievous bodily harm. He had earlier denied a charge of attempted murder and robbery which were not proceeded with by the prosecution.

Robin Frieze, prosecuting, told how Richardson had followed the grandfather down the communal staircase and struck him on the head with the thin edge of the spade, knocking him to the ground.

"Mr Ward then saw him bringing it down, aiming principally at his head. In a desperate bid to protect himself, Mr Ward raised his arms as the blows rained down."

A forensic pathologist had said that it was only a 'matter of luck' that he did not receive serious brain injuries.

"The measure of the ferocity of the attack is that at some stage the shovel broke and it was found in separate pieces," said Mr Frieze. He added that Mr Ward had been unable to work since the attack on September 3 and had been forced to move in with his daughter who acted as a full-time carer.

"Up to the age of 58 he has never missed a day's work in his life. On his release from hospital he moved in with his daughter who has been caring for him since then," he said. It would not be an understatement to say that the attack has distinctly curtailed his life."

The court heard Mr Wade still suffers nightmares and his injuries left him unable to carry our every day acts such as opening doors or getting dressed.

Describing his client as "luckless", mitigating barrister Michael Goldwater said that Richardson had suffered a series of disasters through his life, including the death of one of his children and his wife of 16 years.

Mr Goldwater told how his mother abandoned him, he had been physically abused by his father and spent most of his unhappy childhood in care.

Explaining a possible motive for the attack, he said Richardson, who had been staying at a bedsit near Mr Ward, had been told by friends that Mr Ward blamed him for a series of burglaries at his home, although this probably was not the case.

The prosecution stressed Mr Ward had done nothing to warrant the attack.

After hearing of Richardson's background, Judge Robert Taylor said he was unable to pass anything less than a seven year sentence.

"The fact remains that this was a very, very serious offence indeed involving a sudden and violent attack with a fearsome implement in an unarmed man who was taken completely by surprise and as a result had serious injuries inflicted upon him."

Commenting on the sentence after the case, Mr Ward's daughter, Patricia Sweeney, who kept a bedside vigil by her battered father throughout his recovery, said they had expected a longer sentence.

"We are disappointed by the sentence due to the seriousness of the assault. We feel that a ten year sentence would have been fair.

"My father is still receiving treatment for his injuries, is still unable to work and is still undergoing a period of recuperation.

"After this decision he just wants to get on and try to rebuild his life."

Detective Inspector Sheridan Moore, the officer leading the case, added: "Although the sentence given by the judge appears quite lengthy, we must not lose sight of the fact that this was an appalling attack on Mr Ward who suffered horrendous injuries.

"I feel that Mr Richardson could well have faced a longer prison sentence."