A MAN has been left virtually deaf and out of work after he was beaten with a baseball bat in a midnight attack.

Victim Stephen German suffered severe injuries after three people -- including a 15-year-old boy -- arrived at his home.

Andrew Bell, aged 26, of Ena Crescent, Leigh, has been jailed for four-and-a-half years for his part in the attack.

Bolton Crown Court heard that Bell and 15-year-old Scott Grimes hit German with a baseball bat in a revenge attack for a previous incident.

German was hit by powerful blows on the head by Bell and fell unconscious on the sofa while his partner and a friend watched in horror during the attack in August last year.

German is now totally deaf in one ear and partially deaf in another and doctors have told him he will probably lose his remaining hearing within two years.

Because of his lost hearing, German cannot now work in the construction industry and has suffered frequent headaches since the attack in August last year.

Grimes, now aged 16, and his mother Linda Grimshaw, aged 37, both of Grosvenor Street, Leigh, appeared with Bell for sentence.

Bell was jailed for four-and-a-half years for aggravated burglary at German's home in Leigh and Grimshaw was given a 12-month Community Rehabilitation Order.

Grimes was given a deferred sentence until November 29 after Judge William Morris heard he was doing well on a 12-week Learning Gateway course.

German was called outside by Grimes who then hit him with the baseball bat. Bell forced his way into the house and hit German in the head twice with the bat. It was accepted that Bell's blows caused German's serious injuries.

All three initially denied being involved, claiming they were with others at Grimshaw's house on the night in question. Bell was later identified by three witnesses at an identification parade.

The court was told that all three went to German's house in revenge for a previous incident earlier for which German had appeared in court.