Reece Tansey's uncle brutally beaten in savage attack

James Turner was on Broach Street in Great Lever where he was attacked after a group took an interest in his bike.

Bolton Crown Court heard Zain Azim and Hashikesh Patel were among the group who launched a vicious attack beating him for six minutes after Mr Turner told them the bike was not for sale.

Azim first took an interest in the bike and the 19-year-old returned to attack Mr Turner again and again during the assault.

Azim picked up a bike chain and savagely whipped Mr Turner with it leaving huge marks on his back.

At one point a passerby came and tried to help Mr Turner but Azim pushed him away.

Patel punched Mr Turner multiple times and placed him in a headlock.

Footage of the attack, which lasted for six minutes, was played to the court.

Mr Turner was present in court and chose to remain  while it was played.

His barrister told the court that Mr Turner had said 'he was there and knew what had taken place'.

Mr Turner's sister, Michelle Phillips, was unable to watch at moments.

Footage showed the attackers in possession of helium balloons.

Mr Turner was taken to hospital with a bleed on the brain, broken ribs and other injuries.

A GP statement taken from last July revealed he has ongoing physical and mental health issues from the attack and reports low moods where he ruminates on the attack and experience flashbacks.

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Azim, 19, and Patel, 18, were arrested after the attack.

Alison Mather, prosecuting, read a victim impact statement made by Mr Turner which said: “It is a day I will never forget.

“It was an unprovoked attack by a group of youths.

“I thought I was going to die.

“The attack only stopped because my niece shouted at the youths to get off me.

“She only realised it was her uncle when she got closer.

“I was kept in (hospital) for 12 days.

“I just wanted to be home with my family.”

She added that due to difficulties he had lost his accommodation and been moved to Stoke where he knew nobody.

He has since relocated away from the Little Lever area where he had grown up as he no longer feels safe.

Patel was on bail at the time of the offence.

Earlier in the month he was found in Bolton town centre with a kitchen knife along with cannabis and crack cocaine.

Azim and Patel appeared in court to be sentenced after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm.

Patel also admitted possession of an offensive weapon, cannabis and crack cocaine.

David Bentley, defending Azim, said he came from a good family and had been brought up with a strong religious faith but had consumed alcohol, which he was not used to, in the build up to the attack.

He said he had pleaded guilty and never been in trouble before and asked that his young age be taken into consideration.

He added: “He is thoroughly ashamed of his behaviour.”

Constance Halliwell, defending Patel, said: “His first experience of custody has had a personal impact on Mr Patel, it is not the life Mr Patel wants for himself.”

She said he had been using alcohol and cannabis at the time and was suffering from anxiety and depression.

Recorder Jon Close said: “It was a vicious, cruel and callous attack on and view.

“It was through sheer fortune that the consequences were not more severe.

“He thought he was going to die.

“Having seen the CCTV it was not an unreasonable fear.”

He sentenced Azim, from Green Lane, Great Lever, Bolton, to four years and eight months of detention and training and Patel, from Lowther Street, Great Lever, to detention for five years and two months.

Mr Turner is the uncle of Reece Tansey, the Bolton schoolboy who was fatally stabbed in May 2021.