Man left unconscious in brutal street attack by duo

TWO thugs launched a brutal attack on a man after falsely accusing him of theft.

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Brandon Cooney, aged 25, of High Street, Ilfracombe, and Wade Van Straaten, aged 28, of Clinton Road in Barnstaple, appeared at Exeter Crown Court for sentence after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The court heard how on November 12 last year the victim entered the Snug and Hyde pub in Ilfracombe. While in the pub, the victim saw the defendants and they invited him to join them when other people left. At around 11pm the three left the pub to go to Cooney’s house and continue drinking.

Then, at around 1am, they left the address and walked down Ilfracombe High Street.