Birmingham man jailed five years after brutal New Year attack

A man has been jailed for more than 13 years for carrying out a savage attack after a New Year's Eve party in Birmingham five years ago.

Jason Webb was left in a coma and fighting for his life after he was repeatedly kicked in the head following a dispute at a house party in Kings Heath on January 1, 2015.

On January 23 this year, 34-year-old Adam Taylor was found guilty of the assault which left Mr Webb with neurological injuries, meaning he has difficulty communicating with his family and requires round the clock medical care.

Jason, now aged 33, still suffers with the devastating impact of the assault. His family have suffered years of worry, upset and uncertainty about Jason's future, West Midlands Police said.

On Friday, Taylor, of Brockworth Road, in Birmingham, was sentenced to 13 years and eight months in prison.

During a trial at Birmingham Crown Court, the jury heard how a new witness came forward in December 2017 and offered further significant information about what happened that night.

Taylor had previously been arrested and charged with assault shortly after the attack, however the case was discontinued due to insufficient evidence.

Detectives acted upon the new information and Taylor was charged with assault. During the trial, the jury heard how Mr Webb was subjected to a nasty and malicious attack – and Taylor was seen jumping up and down on him in the street.

Following Taylor's conviction, Jason's family released a statement, saying: "It is heartbreaking to see Jason as he is now in comparison to the person he was prior to the attack which robbed him of his future life.

“Jason was very close to his sister and her children. She misses him daily and the close relationship they once had.

“The attack has left Jason with severe brain damage, he will require care for the rest of his life. Jason has gone from a happy-go-lucky person to someone who requires 24-hours a day support.

“The last five years have been a living nightmare for all of us. Each of us has suffered tremendous heartache and pain. So many lives have been damaged due to the callous actions of Jason’s attacker.

"As a family we feel that we have been given a life sentence and Jason will never have the opportunity to live the life that he could have had.

“We truly appreciate the hard work that all the professionals who’ve worked on Jason’s case and his ongoing care invested over the years.

"We thank the police and CPS who have worked so hard and helped and supported us through a difficult and truly traumatic process.

“We would like to acknowledge the witnesses that came forward and say thank you to them. Lastly thanking all the people who over the years have supported our family in the pursuit of some form of justice for Jason."