Rory Williams

A Preston man has been jailed for punching and strangling his friend after a drunken argument.

Rory Williams, 35, of Frenchwod Knoll, pleaded guilty to grevious bodily harm in November last year.

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He was sentenced to six years in prison on Friday at Preston Crown Court.

The incident took place on Tuesday 25 June last year when Williams was in the London Road running track area of the city with a 48-year-old friend.

The pair had been drinking and after a verbal argument Williams punched his friend leaving him unconscious.

He then assaulted him further in a frenzy of 40 seconds. He slapped his friend across the face and threw him to the ground.

Williams’ friend has been left with neurological problems, with hearing, sight and balance problems.

His recovery has taken months at Royal Preston Hospital.

DC Ian Best, of Preston CID, said: “I am pleased with the sentence handed down to Williams, which should serve as a warning to others that this type of behaviour is simply not acceptable and will not be tolerated by the police and the courts.

“This was a completely unnecessary incident which came about as a result of a drunken fallout between two friends. As a result, a 48-year-old man has been left with life changing injuries and his elderly parents are having to cope with his rehabilitation.”