A DRINKER who went "berserk" and launched a frenzied night attack on a stranger walking home through York has been jailed for 12 months.

Geraldine Kelly, prosecuting, said that Darren Spurr, 20, grabbed Michael McMillan from behind, forced him to the ground and repeatedly punched his face before picking him up and swinging him into the windows of nearby Clarence Street Working Men's Club.

"People, whether sober or drunk, must be able to walk the streets to their homes without being subjected to this kind of violence," Judge Robert Taylor told Spurr.

"A witness describes you as going berserk."

He added that Mr McMillan was a stranger to Spurr and had feared for his life during the attack.

Spurr, of Sycamore Avenue, New Earswick, admitted wounding and causing nearly £1,000 damage to the club's windows.

His barrister Mark McKone said that he had no memory of the attack and no idea why he had behaved in such an out-of-character way, but he had drunk far too much that evening.

Miss Kelly told York Crown Court that Mr McMillan had been out drinking and was drunk as he walked home along Clarence Street, at 2am, on January 11.

Spurr grabbed his jacket and after Mr McMillan hit the ground, continued holding him while he punched him six times in the face.

As taxi driver Timothy Brown and taxi passenger Sarah Birch watched in horror, Mr McMillan got to his feet, but Spurr was still holding his jacket and swung the victim's head into two of the club's windows.

They smashed causing £957.63 damage. Throughout the attack, Spurr did not say a word to Mr McMillan.

Mr Brown sent a 999 call to police who arrested Spurr nearby after Mr McMillan managed to struggle free and walk off down Wigginton Road.

The victim's injuries included a broken little finger, bruising to his back and a cut to his nose

Mr McKone said Spurr had a drink problem and had been drinking heavily every day in January.

But since his arrest, he had had very little to drink and was reluctant to go out at night.

Updated: 10:28 Friday, June 06, 2003