“That he did not suffer life-changing injuries or lose his life is frankly astonishing”

A teen on a coke and booze bender appeared “jubilant” after continuing a violent attack on a stranger he knocked unconscious, before attacking a Good Samaritan who attempted to help.

Jayden Swift meted out the violence to the two strangers in early hours attacks carried out on Peel Street, Barnsley town centre, both of which were captured on CCTV.

placeholder image — Jayden Swift meted out the violence to the two strangers in early hours attacks carried out on Peel Street, Barnsley town centre | SYP

Following a brief conversation with the first man, Swift, then 18, is seen launching into what the judge, Recorder Jeremy Hill Baker, described as an “unprovoked, senseless and serious” attack.

He continued: “What you did was to punch him, get him to the ground, and then repeatedly punch him many times. Up to 20 times, when he is not putting up any resistance and gives the impression of being unconscious.

“You then repeatedly stamped and kicked on his head…you returned and kicked him and kicked him with force.

“That he did not suffer life-changing injuries or lose his life is frankly astonishing.”

Recorder Hill-Baker said Swift appeared “jubilant” as he left the scene, as his first victim lay injured on the floor.

The second complainant arrives on the scene, and attempts to come to the aid of Swift’s first victim, as a third man calls 999, a hearing held on September 30, 2026 heard.

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“What you did was to then attack [the second complainant]. You punched him repeatedly, you knocked him unconscious. You then - as the CCTV shows - kicked him to the head with some force. And again you appear jubilant…you returned to kick him in the head again,” Recorder Hill-Baker told Swift, now aged 19.

Prosecutor Stephanie Hollis told Sheffield Crown Court that the first complainant suffered injuries to his head, and above his eye and temple along with a blackened eye.

The second complainant attended at Barnsley General Hospital and was found to have suffered bruising to his left eye and scalp, along with grazing to the left side of his head.

Both of the two complainants were intoxicated at the time of the attacks, and do not recall most of what happened.

Swift, of Morrison Road, Darfield, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, in relation to the incident on January 11, 2026.

He also cannot recall what happened, due to being intoxicated on a cocktail of cocaine and alcohol, his barrister Katherine White said.

Recorder Hill-Baker jailed Swift for four years, one month.

He said he had taken Swift’s lack of previous convictions, his guilty pleas, and his young age at the time of the offences, which reaching the appropriate level of sentence.

Recorder Hill-Baker also granted a 10-year restraining order.