A MAN already behind bars for raiding a Yeadon jewellers has been jailed for three years for smashing a woman marathon runner in the face with his fist and breaking her eye socket.

Andrew Smith, 33, was told by the judge: “This is as bad as it gets in some respects. I must respect public outrage at such behaviour.”

Smith will serve the sentence consecutively to a prison term imposed in May for raiding H&T Pawnbrokers in James Street in Bradford and Craven Jewellers in High Street, Yeadon, on March 30. He pleaded guilty to burglary and attempted burglary and to burgling a fish and chip shop in Idle Road, Bradford, and was locked up for a total of 40 months.

Smith, formerly of Rockwell Lane, Thorpe Edge, Bradford, was back at Bradford Crown Court after admitting inflicting grievous bodily and common assault.

Prosecutor, Heather Gilmore, said he attacked Rachel Seymour and her then partner Ben Meeks, who were running in Bradford at 7pm on November 19, in training for a marathon.

The pair were taunted by a boy and girl, who made fun of them, verbally abused them and deliberately opened a car door to block their path.

When Miss Seymour remonstrated with her tormentors, and gave the boy a shove, one of the youngsters grabbed her ponytail.

The couple continued on their run but, in Victoria Road, a car screeched up and mounted the pavement, narrowly missing them and blocking their path.

Smith got out of the vehicle and swung “an almighty punch” that floored Miss Seymour instantly and left her dripping with blood and in excruciating pain. He and his male passenger then set about Mr Meeks, leaving him with multiple cuts and bruises to his face.

Smith “scurried off” when members of the public arrived to help, the court was told.

Miss Seymour sustained a fractured eye socket that needed surgery to insert a titanium plate. The assault left her physically scarred and had drained her confidence.

Philip Ainge, Smith’s lawyer, said: “He is thoroughly ashamed and appalled about what he did.”

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC told Smith: “You seem to have been very busy over the years, amassing 43 convictions for 85 offences.”

Miss Seymour was “a decent, brave lady doing no more than training for a marathon”. She endured foul abuse from two “cowardly, yobbish youths” before being attacked by Smith.