Grandfather savagely beaten by thug after coming to defence of woman being racially abused

Christopher Gibson, 56, had left his frail mother's home in a quiet housing estate at around 9am when he encountered violent Simon Crooks who had already downed cans of Stella Artois at his grandmother's house 

A grandfather-of-six was punched to the ground and stamped on - because he rushed to the aid of a woman being racially abused.
Christopher Gibson, 56, had left his frail mother's home in a quiet housing estate at around 9am when he encountered violent Simon Crooks.
Crooks, 30, could be heard shouting the term 'n****r' at a woman walking further ahead of him so Mr Gibson kept an eye on the pair as he made his way to the supermarket to do his elderly mother's shopping.
But when Mr Gibson grew more concerned and verbally challenged Crooks, the thug walked towards the father-of-eight and began following him down the street in Hulme, Manchester, shouting, 'and what?'

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Sickening: Christopher's injuries following the brutal attack

Crooks, of Whalley Range, Manchester, then spat on Mr Gibson - which was ultimately the DNA proof needed to catch the career criminal - before he kicked at the older man and a scuffle ensued.
Telesales worker Mr Gibson, who has been on sick leave since suffering a stroke in October, was eventually kicked and punched to the ground before Crooks launched into the final stage of his disturbing February 28 attack.
As the grandfather, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, lay helpless on the ground, Crooks repeatedly kicked him about the head before stamping at least three times before Mr Gibson lost consciousness.

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Jailed: Simon Crooks launched the horrendous attack

When he came round, he felt a large chunk of flesh fall from beneath his eye, and because the blood was blurring his vision, he thought his whole eyeball had fallen out.
Crooks was arrested a short time later and after admitting wounding with intent on the day of his trial he was jailed for six years at Manchester Crown Court.
The judge Mr Recorder Phillip Cattan said it was a miracle that Mr Gibson didn't sustain more serious injuries than cuts and bruises to his face and a laceration under the eye which reached the bone, requiring three stitches.

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Fear: At first the grandfather thought he had lost an eye

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Gibson, who has regularly visited his housebound mother since she was diagnosed with leukaemia, said: "I had to keep watching because if I saw him attack her I would have had to do something.
"He was shouting at the top of his lungs.
"At first I just thought he was shouting but as I got closer I realised he was shouting after this girl who was walking up ahead of him. I told him to be careful shouting things like that but he came running backwards looking into my face intimidating me and started spitting at me."
Mr Gibson said because of his stroke in October he was walking with a limp and stumbled to the floor when Crooks struck the first blow.
"This guy was crazy," he said. "He was frothing at the mouth with his eyes wide open.

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Suffer: Mr Gibson still gets severe headaches and is on painkillers after the attack

"He kicked out at me and I kicked back hoping he would surrender, then I stumbled and he ran at me, punching and kicking me.
"He was screaming like he was going to bite my face. Then I don't remember anything apart from waking up and seeing a clot of blood. I thought my eye had come out."
Mr Gibson was taken to hospital by ambulance where he was given stitches and had to have a CT scan, but he discharged himself three hours later.
He said: "I still get severe headaches now and I'm on painkillers. I get a little bit nervous now.
"I will always walk where it's busy and don't take back streets. It's really shook me up. I'm just thankful I'm still here.
"You wouldn't expect to be involved in anything like that at that time of day.
"It could have been a really young guy or an old, old man he went for. It's just scary."