Violent thugs jailed

TWO men have been jailed after an innocent man was slashed across the face and two others stabbed while they were out for a meal in Middleton.

Stephen Cleworth (24) was sentenced to eight years in jail for wounding with intent.

Mark Smith, also 24, was given two years in jail for violent disorder, while Paul Rowley (25) was given a 20-week suspended sentence for the same offence.

All three men, who come from Middleton, were cleared of attempted murder.

In the early hours of Christmas Day, three men were at the Akash Indian Restaurant on Market Place with their girlfriends, when Cleworth burst in and attacked them.

Smith wrongly thought the group had been involved in an earlier altercation with him.

Cleworth slashed one of the men across the face while the other two victims were stabbed.

Det Con Nick Price said: “This was a vicious, horrific attack that was entirely unprovoked.

“It is tragic that these men were the victims of mistaken identity.

“The victims’ Christmas became a traumatic experience, and it has been a difficult recovery.”