THE mother of street attack victim Paul Pugh has revealed the devastating impact the vicious assault has had on the 27-year-old's family.

Nesta Pugh was talking for the first time since the keen footballer was savagely beaten in an unprovoked attack in Ammanford's Quay Street last January.

Paul cannot walk, talk or eat since suffering brain injuries after being punched to the ground and kicked after coming out of the Cross Inn.

Sentencing Kieran Hale at Swansea Crown Court, Judge Gerald Price made him the subject of an indeterminate jail sentence after branding him "a danger to the public".

He can apply for parole after three years and eight months, but Judge Price said there are no guarantees he will be released from jail.

"It doesn't matter how long a jail term he was given, it won't alter the situation, " Mrs Pugh, 60, told the Guardian. "The attack has had a devastating effect on Paul and our family."

Asked to comment on the possibility of reprisals, she said: "I wouldn't want any other family to have to go through what we are going through."

Mrs Pugh and her husband Wyn say their son is making a slow recovery and has surprised his doctors and family.

"His consultant Mr Martin said his life hung in the balance until February but he is beginning a slow recovery," she said. "He can't talk, walk or eat but he has started to move his legs and communicates using a laminated alphabet.

"He points to the letters to make up the words, he does it so quickly ."

Paul has begun physiotherapy and can walk a few steps aided by nurses and a walking frame.

"He is putting his all into the physiotherapy sessions," said Mrs Pugh.

"If the physio doesn't turn up for any reason he wants to know why. He is so determined."

Paul briefly left Morriston Hospital for the first time on Sunday to attend a charity match held on his behalf at Cwmaman Park.

"He arrived by a specialist disabled taxi and knew he had to leave at 5pm," said Mrs Pugh.

"But he really enjoyed himself.

When nobody was talking to him we noticed that he was doing some physio by moving his legs. When he hasn't got visitors in the hospital he tries to do some exercises."

Paul has vowed to make a return to football one day.

"He told his team-mates that he would be back," said the proud mother. "He loved playing football and would train twice a week, he also swam twice a week."

The family say they have drawn great strength from the support they have had from family and friends.

"So many people have visited him in hospital," said Mrs Pugh. "One day there were ten people waiting in the hospital corridor to see him."

"Our family, friends and local ministers have been praying for him.

"We would like to thank everyone for their support, especially Morriston Hospital's Neurological unit and Clydach ward and all Paul's team-mates and friends at Cwmaman United.

"The family would also like to say a special thankyou to PC Jamie Lang for his help and support ."