Last updated at 14:38, Monday, 18 June 2012

A YOUNG man left with brain injuries after an assault in Barrow has told how the violent attack changed his life forever.

SURVIVOR: Above, Jamie Elliot, 20, who was found unconscious in an alleyway between Heath’s and Bailey’s in Barrow on July 24, 2010, after being beaten. He is pictured with Detective Chief Inspector Bob Qazi from Barrow police, who is appealing for information over the attack, which left Mr Elliot in hospital for months LINDSEY DICKINGS REF: 50034893B001

Before the attack nearly two years ago, Jamie Elliot planned to leave home and become a tree surgeon.

Since he was repeatedly kicked and left lying in the street in the early hours of July 24, 2010, he has spent his time in hospital or under the near-constant care of mum Georgina Speirs.

They are now repeating an appeal for public help to bring the attacker to justice.

Mr Elliot, of Barrow, said he could remember little about the night of the incident.

The 20-year-old had to learn to eat and walk again after the attack.

He still finds it difficult to balance and has problems with his memory and controlling his temper.

Mr Elliot said: “I would like to go back to work, I just don’t know if I’ve got it in me to do a full day’s work.

“I don’t think I am ever going to go out around town again. My mate was saying to me the other week he wanted to go to Blackpool for my 21st, but there’s no way.”

After the attack he was in a coma in intensive care in Furness General Hospital for four weeks.

He spent four months being treated both there and at Cumberland Infirmary’s neurological department.

He said: “It seemed like I was in hospital a lifetime. I started getting to the stage where I wanted to smash my way out of the hospital, I wanted to leave that bed.”

Police say Mr Elliot could easily have died from his injuries, which they believe were caused by repeated kicks to the head.

They believe he sat on a bench at the top of Dalton Road and suffered a serious head injury at about 3am.

He was found in the alley between Bailey’s Amusements and Heath’s in Dalton Road.

Prior to this he had been at a house party in Barrow and also The Rifleman’s Arms, in Salthouse Road.

Mrs Speirs had to give up her job at Twilight Years care home agency and will spend much of the rest of her life looking after her son.

She cannot believe that no-one has told police who is responsible.

She said: “I am just surprised with how small Barrow is that no-one has come forward.

“I am disgusted to be called a Barrovian really, you don’t do that to someone.”

She thanked the police and staff at Furness General Hospital, who had been “faultless” in how they helped the family.

A man was arrested the day after the assault, but released without charge.

Detective Chief Inspector Bob Qazi said he believed one person was responsible, who had thrown away the clothing and shoes they wore.

He said: “The person who is responsible will have confided in their friends. Someone knows what has gone on.

“We don’t rest on things like this. People needn’t think they have got away with it just because it happened two years ago.”

He urged anyone with information to contact Barrow CID on 101.

First published at 13:24, Monday, 18 June 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk