Booze-fuelled Stephen Craddock, 22, swung a golf club at Darryl Wilkinson with such force the club's head broke off – but continued to deliver blows as his victim lay on the floor.

His accomplice, dad-of-one Daniel Roughton, 22, used a second golf club to beat Mr Wilkinson around the legs during the brutal attack outside The Progressive pub in Knottingley.

Jailing Craddock for 42 months and Roughton for 15 months at Leeds Crown Court on Monday, Recorder Jonathan Hill QC said: "This represents a terrible example of what happens when hot-headed young men full of bravado go looking for confrontation."

Mark Bursell, prosecuting, told the court a fight broke out between the former friends at around 8pm on July 27 last year.

Craddock threw a punch at Mr Wilkinson but missed and was punched in the stomach in retaliation.

The pair fell to the floor, where they began grappling, and Craddock punched Mr Wilkinson in the face.

After a short time, Craddock ran to a car and returned to the scene armed with a golf club.

Mr Bursell said: "Roughton stood in his way, stopped him and pushed him back.

"At this stage he was acting as a peace-maker."

Roughton took the golf club off Craddock, who ran at Mr Wilkinson and the pair continued to grapple on the floor.

However, Craddock managed to get up, ran to the car and returned with a second golf club.

He hit Mr Wilkinson's legs – causing him fall to the floor – and Roughton also began delivering blows with the first golf club.

Mr Bursell said: "Craddock held the golf club above his head with both hands and swung it at the complainant's head.

"Mr Wilkinson managed to stick his foot in the air to deflect the blow, but Craddock swung it at his head again.

"This time Mr Wilkinson managed to block it with his right arm but the force was such that the club broke and the head came flying off.

"Despite this, Craddock swung the headless club – again, aiming for the head.

"Mr Wilkinson managed to put his arm out but the broken end of the club made contact with his skin."

Mr Wilkinson was taken to Doncaster Royal Infirmary where doctors initially feared the broken club had pierced an artery in his wrist.

No serious damage was caused, but he had lacerations to his arm and leg that needed stitches and plastic surgery.

He was also left with a black eye and bruises.

Chris Morton, mitigating, told the judge Roughton was genuinely remorseful and something had been said that caused him to "lose his temper".

Stephen Swan, mitigating for Craddock, said he was sorry and added: "This has been a wake-up call for a young man who has not experienced any form of custody before."

Craddock, of Francis Lane House, Horsefair, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm while Roughton, of Farthing Avenue, Pontefract, pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of unlawful wounding.

Jailing Craddock, the judge said: "The aggravating features are you went out looking for a confrontation and while I accept you didn't take the golf club to use as a weapon, it readily came to hand."