Sikh Priest Mr Avtar Singh attacked for no reason and left for dead
5Sikh Priest Mr Avtar singh attacked for no reason and left for dead.
Claudio Campos aged 28, attacked Mr Avtar Singh, 62, in broad daylight on June 23.
Claudio Campos followed Mr Avtar Singh after passing Campos and his Polish girlfriend Claudia by a pedestrian crossing.
Claudio Campos's girlfriend told Claudio that Mr Avtar Singh touched her bottom and then pointed to Mr Avtar Singh.
Manchester Crown Court jailed Claudio Campos for three years after previously pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm.
As a result of the attack, the court heard how Mr Avtar Singh suffered a traumatic brain injury, a stroke caused by bleeding to the brain and multiple fractures to his cheek, jaw and eye socket.
He still remains in hospital under 24-hour care.
Eleanor Myers, prosecuting, said Claudio Campos was seen on CCTV footage pursuing Mr Avtar Singh, who was walking away from Claudio, then Claudio punched Mr Avtar Singh in the head twice.
Claudio Campos then grabbed his victim’s shirt before punching him again to the head, which sent him sprawling to the ground.
Claudio Campos then left the scene to go to a sports bar with his girlfriend Claudia to celebrate their fifth anniversary as the victim lay unconscious on the street.
Claudio Campos explained that he followed Mr Avtar Singh to demand an explanation and said the priest quickening his pace ‘made him guilty in trying to escape’.
Claudio Campos, who denied attacking Mr Avtar Singh because he was wearing a turban, remained at large for three months after the attack.
This was until police received a tip-off from a member of the public following a CCTV appeal.