Browse Sections

• Education
• Special reports

Thug got what he deserved

Reports by Dan Thompson
2/ 4/2008

DAVE SNEDDON'S parents are delighted that the violent lout who attacked their son has finally been brought to justice.

Stephen Woolfall, 26, faces a life sentence because of the severity of the sustained assault. John and Dorothy Sneddon think that finally the thug has got his just deserts.

John, 84, speaking from his Alkrington home, said: "Woolfall has got what he deserves and he's hopefully going to be out of circulation for some time. I wouldn't hope to meet him ever again."

Dave, 49, was beaten to a pulp at his home on The Meadows in July last year, leaving him in a coma for weeks.

He suffered eight broken ribs, punctured lungs, a brain haemorrhage and fractures to his eye socket, cheek and jaw.

A tooth has been permanently lodged in his lung and he has had metal plates inserted into his skull as a result of the attack.

Dorothy, 79, said: "When we first saw him in the hospital he was unrecognisable because his head was so swollen. We thought he was going to die, we expected it at any time."

But after treatment at North Manchester General and Hope hospitals, Dave has made slow progress towards recovery while receiving 24 hour care at Birch Hill hospital in Rochdale. He is due to move to a Chadderton care home in the coming weeks to continue his recuperation.

Dorothy said Dave still has difficulty with his speech and uses a wheelchair, but he is determined to get better.

"He's trying very hard to get better, but his short term memory is not as good it was. He doesn't remember a thing about the night but he said 'he tried to kill me and I'm still here'."

Dad John added: "He also said that putting Woolfall in jail won't make him better, but you've got to think that he could've killed somebody one day."

John and Dorothy also said they wanted to thank the quick thinking of their son's neighbour, Ian Bamford, who discovered Dave in his flat following the attack. Mr Bamford saved his life when he noticed him choking.