A man and two teenagers have admitted beating a father-of-two to a pulp in a vicious attack.
Brett Carslake, 20, from Epsom, and the two 17-year-olds from Ewell attacked Portuguese national Filipe Nunes David, 39, in Cox Lane, West Ewell, as the father-of-two cycled home on August 18 last year.
Mr Nunes David, father of six-year-old Jessica and Victor, two, suffered horrific injuries and was in a coma for two weeks after the beating.
He was in a critical condition for another three weeks and had been recovering in hospital until the end of last year, waiting to have a metal plate fitted to his skull when doctors were satisfied there was no further risk of his brain swelling.
At Guildford Crown Court today one of the teenagers pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent while the other admitted GBH without intent. Carslake pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing, on January 9.
They are all in custody awaiting sentencing.
Last year, Mr Nunes David devastated partner Helena Sousa, 23, revealed how the attack which left him with serious head injuries, including a fractured skull, has changed her family’s life beyond recognition.
Ever since the attack, Miss Sousa said she had been crying, and her daughter Jessica’s behaviour has changed as well.
She said: “Every night Jessica asks me ‘mum, have you locked the doors?’. She says it’s because she doesn’t want the ‘baddies’ to come and get her as well.
“She’s been more agitated and scared of things.”
Miss Sousa and Mr Nunes David were together for seven years and had been separated for a few months before the incident.
She said: “We were trying to rekindle our relationship. We were getting closer and working on being a family again. And then this happened.”
The family had come from the Alentejo, in southern Portugal, to Epsom four years ago, hoping to lead a life better than that of a farm labour in the Portuguese countryside.
Recorder Simon Oliver, who is now waiting for pre-sentencing reports, told the two teenagers in court: "You have to be aware that both offences are serious. The reality is that you will spend time in prison but the question is, how long?
“If the determination is that you are dangerous then the sentence will no doubt be longer.”
Carslake and the teenagers are due to be sentenced on March 12.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article