Nic Cruwys attack: Vile attackers deserve time behind bars, says wife of fan left fighting for life after Wolves game

Five of the gang of defendants involved in the attack on Watford supporter Nic Cruwys, in which he was left unconscious in a pool of blood, were sentenced last Friday.

Three of the group were sent to a Young Offenders Institute for their roles - Joe Wood, 15, was sentenced to four years and eight months for grievous bodily harm with intent, Connor Pearson, 16, got 12 months behind bars for grievous bodily harm and Joseph Lister was handed a 30-month sentence, also for GBH.

Others involved in the attack on Mr Cruwys, who suffered skull fractures and was in a medically induced coma for three weeks, were Ryan Meer and Robert Beech, both 19, who were given suspended sentences for affray and threatening behaviour respectively. Daniel Lloyd, 19, will be sentenced within the next 25 days.

Jodie Cruwys, Nic's wife who was present at Wolverhampton Crown Court for the sentencing hearing last Friday believes it was right that the worst offending culprits were locked up.

Wood, of Woodstock Road, Wolverhampton, stamped on Mr Cruwys' head after Lloyd, of Longfellow Road, Sedgley, punched him to the ground. Pearson, of Ettingshall Road, Wolverhampton, kicked him in the back and Lister, of Palmer Close, Wednesfield landed a kick to his backside.

Meer, of Watling Street, Gailey, stepped over Mr Cruwys unconscious body to square up to another Watford supporter, and Beech was part of the group acting in a threatening manner.

It happened on March 7 last year.

Mrs Cruwys said: "They are just vile. I couldn't believe the size Joe Wood was. He was tiny.

"My initial reaction was that I was pleased that it was custodial sentences for the most serious ones. You never know if they're going to get off with a suspended sentence so I was pleased about that.

"People might think that they are long sentences, especially for people who are so young. But considering what they have done, I think it's right that they get long sentences."

The extent of Mr Cruwys' ordeal and suffering in the subsequent months was laid bare in court, where it was heard he had to learn to eat, wash and dress himself again.

Mrs Cruwys explained how the attack impacted her husband and the family.

She said: "We've really been through every different emotion.

"We were told he wouldn't walk or talk again when he was at Queen Elizabeth hospital so he's done really well. His biggest problem is his short term memory. He finds it hard to cope when there's lots going on at the same time. Most of it is just frustration for him, he gets angry.

"It's like he's had his life put on hold because from day to day, he's just going from one appointment to another, and can't really get on with things properly.

"I think one of the things that's frustrating is that when you look at him, he seems fine, but you can't see what's going on in his brain."

She is now set to speak with police to try and find out more about what their sentences mean, and how long they will carry the convictions on their records.

She said: "Quite often people are out after only serving half their sentence, so I want to know exactly what they'll get and what their detention means, what they will be doing as part of it."

Mrs Cruwys also feels that the Express & Star's successful application to name youth defendants Wood and Pearson went some way to handing the attackers their just desserts.

She added: "Absolutely, if they are old enough to be out and about attacking people they should face responsibility for their actions."

The family hope to be present to at Lloyd's sentencing.