TWO Co Antrim men who chased down another man in a car and beat him with a brick have been jailed for the "unprovoked" attack.
Judge Patricia Smyth told Kenneth Graffin (34) and Samuel David McMaw (27) it was "a matter of pure good fortune" that their victim did not sustain more serious injuries in the 2016 incident in Carrickfergus.
The men were sentenced to 12 months in prison followed by 12 months on licence and each issued with a restraining order to stay away from the injured party.
Graffin, from Oakwood Road, Carrickfergus, and father-of-two McMaw, from Starbog Road, Larne, both admitted attacking the other man occasioning him actual bodily harm.
Father-of-five Graffin also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.
Belfast Crown Court heard of "ill feeling" between all those involved when the attack happened on September 6, 2016.
The court was told the victim was in the Joymount area with two friends at around 10.20pm, when he saw a man he knew who acknowledged him.
The same man then drove past the three friends and was verbally abusive.
As the victim made his way along Larne Road, he noticed a black Vauxhall being driven along Victoria Road by Graffin, with McMaw and another male on board.
Graffin stopped in the car park of a shopping complex before driving at speed towards the man, who escaped on his mountain bike towards the police station, while his two friends fled.
He managing to avoid being struck by the car as he cycled along Larne Road, but after dismounting was knocked off his feet by the vehicle.
Getting to his feet, he jumped over a fence, but was caught by McMaw.
A third man began assaulting the victim, with Graffin suggesting using the brick which he was struck repeatedly with.
McMaw took the man's keys before leaving.
The injured man's two friends called an amublance after returning to the scene.
The victim's injuries were not serious but left significant discomfort from bruising and abrasions.
Graffin was arrested several hours later, and initially denied knowing the victim and involvement in the attack.
In a subsequent interview in November 2016, he admitted his mother's car was used in the chase and a mobile phone dropped at the scene of the attack was his, claiming he lost it.
McMaw was arrested in November 2016 and denied involvement.
Both later admitted assaulting the other man, while Graffin admitted driving dangerously.
"It is a matter of pure good fortune that the injured party did not sustain worse injuries," Judge Smyth told the pair.
Noting Graffin's dangerous driving prior to the attack, Judge Smyth said he "showed a deliberate disregard for the safety of others".
Judge Smyth said the "deliberate, unprovoked attack" warranted an immediate custodial sentence.
