TWO teenagers who ruined the life of a promising academic in an attack of “nauseating brutality” were jailed for a total of 16 years today.

Thomas Mack and Craig Knowles dragged Oxford University student Kentaro Ikeda off his bicycle before hitting him over the head with his bike lock.

Mack bragged about the attack in a series of text messages to friends as Mr Ikeda lay fighting for his life in the University Parks, Oxford.

The pair had spent the evening of the attack on July 31 last year picking fights with pub goers and a taxi driver.

Mr Ikeda, meanwhile, was studying for a masters degree in his college library.

But their paths crossed in Mesopotamia Walk just before 2am.

Mack and Knowles forced Mr Ikeda to stop by grabbing his bag as he cycled past.

They then rummaged through his rucksack — throwing away textbooks and tearing up his notes — before punching, kicking and hitting him over the head with the metal lock.

The pair, both 18, fled with his laptop, rucksack and bike while passers by tried to help as Mr Ikeda lay semi-conscious.

Richard Milne, prosecuting at Aylesbury Crown Court, said: “Mr Ikeda was left very badly injured.

“A few minutes later he was found by a passer-by bleeding profusely from a head wound.

“He sadly will have — probably for the rest of his life — difficulties in walking, concentrating and studying.”

Claire Fraser, defending Mack, said: “Mr Mack is incredibly remorseful for what happened. Mr Mack is not a thug.

“He is not a young man getting into trouble day in and day out.”

John Riley, defending Knowles, said: “His remorse is manifest. It is not just Mr Ikeda’s life that has been ruined but there are three lives here that have been ruined.”

St Edmund Hall student Mr Ikeda, 27, was flown back to his native Japan by air ambulance and now receives round-the-clock care in a rehabilitative centre near Tokyo.

Yesterday Mack, an apprentice mechanic of Nicholas Avenue, Marston, was jailed for seven years after being convicted of causing actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm and robbery during a trial at Oxford Crown Court in February.

A further charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent was ordered to lie on the court file after the jury was unable to agree.

Knowles, of Oxford Road, Old Marston, was jailed for nine years after admitting causing actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm with intent and robbery.

Judge Terence Maher said: “This man’s life has effectively been stolen from him.

“It is no exaggeration to say this is an offence of the utmost gravity which has had life-changing consequences for the victim. All this from a few moments of nauseating brutality.

“Judging by the text messages which you sent after the event you were exalting — and that is not too strong a word — in the violence that you inflicted on him.”

KENTARO Ikeda came to Oxford to experience the best the city could offer — but ended up coming face-to-face with its worst.

While the 27-year-old Oxford University masters student was writing his dissertation in the library at St Edmund Hall, his attackers were picking fights in city centre pubs and clubs.

And, when their paths crossed in Mesopotamia Walk, Mr Ikeda’s life was changed from that of a promising academic to a semi-paralysed man needing round-the-clock-care.

Thomas Mack and Craig Knowles left Mr Ikeda, who was studying for a masters degree in science and education, fighting for his life with a fractured skull.

Mr Ikeda was rushed to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital where he had emergency surgery to remove fragments of his shattered skull from his brain.

He had three further operations before being airlifted back to permanent rehabilitative care in his native Japan.

Mr Ikeda explained the impact the incident has had on his life.

He said: “This attack has left me partly paralysed on my left side. I can only drag my left leg while standing on my right leg and have to spend my days in a wheelchair.

“I can only lift my left arm to the height of my waist and I have no movement from the left elbow to the fingertips, this makes it very difficult to perform everyday actions.

“If I want to use the laptop computer I can only use my right hand. I have difficulty in concentrating, but I remain optimistic for the future and one day I would like to resume my studies.”

Aylesbury Crown Court heard Mr Ikeda’s father died several years ago, leaving an inheritance which paid for his education.

Mr Ikeda’s mother, a school teacher and mother-of-three, has been forced to take early retirement to become his full-time carer.

Judge Terence Maher said Mr Ikeda’s health insurance had paid for his repatriation and treatment in a Tokyo hospital but the money had now run out.

The court heard Mr Ikeda would now have to rely on the state rehabilitation centre where he was currently living.

Mrs Ikeda said the attack had left her son very damaged and in some ways he had returned to childhood.

She added she was worried as her family had relied on the money invested in Mr Ikeda’s education to provide for their future.

Speaking outside court, Det Ch Insp George Bain said: “Mr Ikeda came to Oxford to take advantage of the best this city can offer but ended up coming face-to-face with its worst.

“Thomas Mack and Craig Knowles went out in Oxford to celebrate Mack’s 18th birthday.

“The night of heavy drinking left both young men drunk and aggressive.

“Mr Ikeda was stopped by Mack and Knowles who launched an unprovoked attack on him which was savage and cowardly.

“The drunken behaviour of these two men has left the life of a promising academic changed forever.”

esimmonds@oxfordmail.co.uk