A 26-YEAR-OLD has been jailed for seven years for his part in a serious assault which resulted in a man suffering a fractured skull.

Alan O’Brien, of Southtown Road, Great Yarmouth, appeared at Norwich Crown Court on Wednesday, November 10, after pleading guilty to assault causing grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm at an earlier hearing.

The charges related to an incident which happened on University Crescent in Gorleston on Sunday, June 20, where a 23-year-old man was attacked by three other men as he put belongings into his car.

The victim was hit round the head with a rolling pin causing him to fall to the floor unconscious. He was taken to the James Paget University Hospital and later transferred to Addenbrookes Hospital for emergency surgery after suffering a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain.

Two other men charged with offences have admitted their involvement in the incident and will appear at Norwich Crown Court for sentencing on November 29.

Mark Storey, 34, of Camden Road, Great Yarmouth, and Ivan Betson, 41, of Springfield Road, Gorleston, both pleaded guilty to assault causing grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Det Sgt Mark Scott, from Great Yarmouth CID, praised the actions of those who had witnessed the assault.

He said: “Several witnesses came forward to police over this incident and as a result of their evidence we were able to build a strong case which led to all three suspects pleading guilty to the offences at the first opportunity.”