Sandys Parish resident Jamal Orlando Symonds has been bailed pending a social inquiry report for his part in beating a man who suffered permanent memory loss.

Shawn Stevens, 24, suffered two separate onslaughts after he objected to a man who was revving his bike outside the Champions Sports Club in Reid Street, Pembroke, in the early hours of November 11, 1998.

An irate Stevens threw the man's bike keys across the road. The rider pulled a knife, but Stevens knocked him out before knocking out two others.

When another man threatened him with a helmet, Stevens ran while others chased him up and down Reid Street.

He returned to Champions Sports Club where he fell over a motorbike before being attacked by a group of people.

Symonds, 21, of White Hill Lane, beat him with a crash helmet, switching hands during the onslaught while he also kicked and punched Stevens.

Rawn Michael Warner, 21, of Sound View Road, Sandys Parish, who was also before Magistrates' Court yesterday, joined in and punched and kicked the victim.

Crown counsel Sandra Bacchus said: "During the attack the victim could only resist his attackers by covering his body with his arms. But due to the barrage of kicks and blows the victim sustained several injuries.'' The victim then fled up Joells Alley while three other men gave chase.

Police found Stevens unconscious on the corner of Church and Court streets with severe head injuries.

He had a fractured skull, a broken jaw, serious kidney and liver damage and now suffers permanent short-term memory loss.

Both Symonds and Warner pleaded not guilty to charges of grievous bodily harm while similar charges against Dwight Martin Basden, of Bushy Park Drive, Sandys Parish, were dropped.

Jobless Symonds has been bailed to return to court pending a social inquiry report after pleading guilty to actual bodily harm. Warner, a 20-year-old refrigerator apprentice, pleaded guilty to common assault and was fined $300.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis said: "The victim here seems to have started something.'' But Ms Bacchus pointed out that Symonds was involved in the first attack and had caused injury to Stevens.

She said: "He didn't have to get involved.'' Mr. Francis said: "I think a social inquiry report will help me in this. "I can't overlook that the victim was aggressive in the early stages.'' Symonds will return to court on March 15 when the social inquiry report is scheduled to be completed.