Man's forehead removed by surgeons after sickening drunken attack by 16-year-old thug

The victim of a drunken teenage yob had a huge part of his skull removed after a 'murderous' attack left him close to death

Steven Cloak was targeted while walking home in Bideford, Devon, for looking at a 16-year-old 'in the wrong way' and was left with shocking head injuries.

Thug Jack Hobbs now face 10 years in prison for inflicting the savage beating, the results of which were deemed so severe as to be prejudicial if shown to the jury in his court case.

Horrendous injury: Steven Cloak, left, after life-saving surgery, and right, after surgeons inserted a titanium plate into his head


However, he was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent leading to the judge lifting a ban on his identification.

Mr Cloak, who had a titanium plate inserted where his skull was removed, is recovering from the ordeal at his home in Bideford, North Devon.

The court heard how Hobbs had been downing sambuca and beer with friends on the streets of his home town in the early hours of the morning in February.

Trial judge Philip Wassall remanded Hobbs in custody until he is sentenced early next year but warned him he faces 'a substantial custodial sentence'.

And Judge Wassall described the incident as 'a murderous attack' where Hobbs 'kicked this prone and injured man on the floor'.

He ordered reports including one from a psychiatrist because the judge believes Hobbs is an 'unassessed risk'.

Hobbs claimed in court that Mr Cloak - a total stranger to him - had nudged into him outside a takeaway shop in Bideford.

Guilty: Jack Hobbs said he acted in self-defence but was convicted of GBH with intent


Then the spotty-faced teenager told police that Mr Cloak then 'looked at him' - and he followed him before confronting him just yards from the safety of the victim's home.

Hobbs, from Bideford, punched jobless factory worker Mr Cloak twice and felled him to the road - but he banged his head on the ground and suffered massive head and brain injuries.

The yob then returned to kick stricken Mr Cloak in the head - before running away telling his gang of friends to keep silent about what he had done.

The teenage thug, now 17, raced home and put his blood stained training shoes and clothes in the washing machine - but forensic scientists found tiny traces of Mr Cloak's blood on both his shoes.

At the scene, the callous teen had paused to wipe blood off the shoes before he fled into the night.

Some of his friends, disgusted at what he had done to an innocent man, gave evidence against him as he tried to say he is was acting in self defence.

Mr Cloak suffered massive head wounds and a fractured jaw and eye socket.

He has no memory of the incident or of the previous months of his life and did not give evidence in court because he has no recall.

His family said: 'He is the one with a life sentence. Steven doesn't have a violent bone in his body, he is so laid back he is horizontal.'

Meanwhile Hobbs who denied a charge of unlawfully and maliciously wounding grievous bodily harm during his trial at Exeter Crown Court, is facing the prospect of years behind bars after being convicted.

He had been drinking beer and sambuca with a gang of his friends but told a jury that 'personally, I was not drunk'.

Giving evidence, he said: 'There was a barge, that was it with Steven Cloak. The barge was quite forceful. It appeared to be Mr Cloak. I looked at him and that was it.

'I had never seen him before.'

He said afterwards: 'I noticed him, appearing to be looking at me, it was an intimidating look. I went to confront him.'

Mr Cloak was a regular at the takeaway after going out to see friends, and Hobbs lied as he tried to claim he acted in self defence as he followed and then confronted Mr Cloak who was holding his bag of food.

Hobbs told the jury: 'It seemed like he threw a punch at me... I did not see a fist. I thought he was going to hit me.'

He also claimed he only hit him once and said he went back to check on his victim - using his foot to move his head.

But key witnesses said Hobbs kicked Mr Cloak as he lay 'motionless and unconscious' on the road.

Prosecutor David Evans said it was the second punch that felled Mr Cloak whose had hit the pavement with a 'sickening crack'.

Mr Evans said: 'The sad truth is this 16-year-old was fired up, in drink, and playing the hardman.' He described the self-defence claim as 'ludicrous'.

After the vicious attack, around 500 protesters marched through the streets of the North Devon town to 'reclaim' it from anti social behaviour in Steven's name following the horrific assault.

His upset family said: 'He cannot remember what happened that night or for several months before it happened. It is as though he had blotted it out of his life.

'He just wants to get a job and move forward. We have been through all this because someone thought he had been given a look.'

Detective Constable Martin Pearse of Bideford CID said: 'This was a completely unprovoked and mindless act of violence which could easily, and very nearly, resulted in a death.

'Hobbs has now been found guilty and I hope that Steven and his family can now concentrate on rebuilding their lives and start looking towards the future.'

The detective also praised the quick thinking witnesses who dialled 999 who helped save Steven's life as the emergency services were on the scene within three minutes.

A RAF helicopter from nearby Chivenor airlifted Steven to a specialist head injury unit at Plymouth's Derriford Hospital where he spent a month being treated - and where surgeons removed part of his skull days later.

A friend said: 'Steven has had a hell of a year. He is recovering really well but what better Christmas present could he have than someone gives him a job to get him well and truly back on his feet.'

Steven Cloak's forehead removed after drunken attack by Jack Hobbs


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