TWO men have been jailed after a 'savage and unprovoked attack on a complete stranger' in a town centre night club.

Kenneth Hayes-Scott, of Hale Street, Orford, knocked 28-year-old Aaron Branford to the ground with a single punch during a night out at Identity bar on Bridge Street on the morning of October 22.

The violence unfolded after Hayes-Scott's friend Reece Smith, 31, from Manchester, slapped Mr Branford to the face.

The pair appeared at Warrington Crown Court on Friday where Smith was given nine months for battery and affray and Hayes-Scott was handed 30 months in prison for GBH.

Jo Maxwell, prosecuting, said: "The victim had put his arm out towards Mr Smith, who said he 'acted instinctively'.

"He threw a blow, more of a slap, to the victim's face but he remained on his feet and asked why he had been hit.

"Mr Hayes-Scott got involved immediately and threw a punch with such force that the victim fell to the floor and into a state of unconsciousness."

He sustained a fractured skull and jaw, and was placed into an induced coma following a bleed on the brain – spending a total of 13 days in hospital following surgery.

In a victim impact statement read out by Miss Maxwell, she said he remains 'nervous about going out' and is receiving therapy to assist with his short-term memory.

She said: "He feels isolated from friends as the attack has affected his social life, and it has caused a lot of stress for him and his family."

She continued to explain how his confidence is 'not what it was' and his work as a joiner had subsequently been affected due to injury.

Mark Friend, defending for Smith, said the complainant had been 'pestering' Smith's girlfriend and was 'far from innocent'.

He asked the court to consider that someone else was responsible for inflicting long-term injuries on the victim and asked for full credit in that Smith entered a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity.

Paul Wood, defending for Hayes-Scott, explained how this was an 'isolated' incident and the defendant was 'remorseful' for his actions.

He said: "Mr Hayes-Scott has no relevant convictions in terms of violence and has expressed remorse for the injuries to the complainant.

"As you can see, he is poorly educated and has no secondary education. He been diagnosed with an ongoing personality disorder, depression, anxiety and potentially ADHD.

"He has had a childhood you would not wish on anybody, and has seen things no child should see."

Mr Wood explained that Hayes-Scott is also a father-of-five and carer for his grandmother, who suffered a heart attack after his arrest.

Following the attack, Identity's licence was temporarily suspended but the bar has since reopened under new ownership.

Tougher conditions were imposed, including door staff provided by a company validated by the Security Industry Authority and a new CCTV system was installed at the bar.

Recorder Paul O'Brien rejected that the victim was aggressive and 'gestured violence' towards the pair prior to the attack.

Addressing Hayes-Scott he said: "You struck so hard that it could be heard above the music in the nightclub.

"It is perfectly clear these were very serious injuries indeed. A savage, unprovoked attack on a complete stranger."

Speaking to Smith, he said: "Although not as serious as your co-defendant, it is still nevertheless battery. You have previous convictions, many for violence therefore only a prison sentence can be imposed."