Thug attacked three homless people as they slept at city centre bus station

Gary Beaton, 33, was on licence from prison when he carried out the offences at Haymarket Bus Station in Newcastle.

He caught a taxi from his home in Byker into the city centre at 5am on December 30 last year before targeting his victims.

Mairi Clancy, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court he first assaulted a woman as she slept in a shop doorway.

She said he then approached another sleeping victim and repeatedly "punched and kicked" him before dragging him along the ground.

Beaton finally attacked a third homeless person as he slept inside the bus station and stole a backpack he was using as a pillow.

When the man pleaded for his bag back, the defendant punched him in the face.

Police identified Beaton after viewing CCTV footage of the attacks.

The convicted burglar had only been released from prison on licence four months before the attacks.

Beaton, of Avondale Rise, admitted a single charge of theft and three counts of assault by beating.

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Jonathan Pigford, defending, said the attacks were "awful".

He said Beaton had been struggling with alcohol and mental health issues at the time of the offences.

Recorder Simon Goldberg jailed him for a total of 18 months.

He told Beaton: "These were unprovoked attacks against vulnerable individuals."

Words: Martin Fricker