A man who severely beat the owner of a Japanese car during anti-Japanese demonstrations in Xi'an in 2012 was sentenced on Friday to 10 years in prison, a local court said.

Cai Yang, 22, was charged with intentionally injuring Li Jianli on September 15, 2012 and disturbing the social order. Cai was also ordered to pay 258,860 yuan ($42,220) in compensation.

The Lianhu district people's court in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, reached the verdict in its first trial on Friday, a court staff member said.

The court found that Cai hit Li four times with a motorcycle lock after the latter hit Cai with a brick to protect his car from being smashed by Cai. Li suffered severe head injuries as a result of the attack. 

The incident happened during anti-Japanese demonstrations across China last year.

Global Times