THE father of a man who was attacked on a night out says that his son has now returned to work.

Alex Gretton was attacked by Billy Stokes on a night out in Evesham in a row over sunglasses, which saw Stokes given a two-year jail sentence.

Mr Gretton suffered a bruised brain but has now returned to work, although the keen footballer, who was attacked in May, cannot play contact sports for another four months.

Andrew Gretton, his father said: "Alex is making good progress and working again, and has found some help so he can catch up with the work and not lose any contracts

"He has not touched alcohol under Doctors orders and has another four months without, not playing contact sports for another four months, misses his football.

"He was lucky, I am working for a lady whose husband had to have his skull drilled in four places to release the pressure and a years recovery time. We are thankful Alex responded to Steroids,

"The court case went well , as far as justice goes, with the offender having a two year custodial sentence.

"There was no compensation given, which is unfortunate as it has cost my son thousands in lost work, but it shows that there can be a good outcome using the power of the law."

Billy Stokes has been given a two years imprisonment after he hit Alex Gretton in the temple near The Outside Inn in Market Place, after he refused to pay £200 to fix a broken lens, an attack which left him with a bruise on the brain and unable to stay awake, eat or work.

Stokes, 20, of Ivy Court, Evesham was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court on Friday July 20.

Worcester Magistrates Court had previously heard how Mr Gretton was out drinking with friends when he tripped on a step in The Outside Inn in Market Place, Evesham and knocked Stoke’s sunglasses off his head.