A SOLDIER who served in Iraq has been thrown out of the Army after he kicked a man in the head leaving him unconscious.

David Sharp, of the 21st Engineer Regiment in Ripon, Yorkshire, admitted a charge of affray at Warrington Crown Court on Monday.

Judge Thomas Teague said the 24-year-old had served his country with ‘great courage and devotion’.

But he said he had launched a ‘vicious kick’ to a ‘helpless’ victim, Craig Somerset, on Rylands Street around 4.45am on May 10.

Judge Teague said: “This case is a tragedy for you as a serving member of the Armed Forces.

“Kicking a man in the head while he is on the ground, particularly where it produces immediate unconsciousness, is something the court has to take very seriously indeed. It is a very grave matter.”

CCTV footage played in court showed the defendant and two others, a man and a woman, arguing with the victim on Bridge Street.

Mr Somerset walked away but the trio followed him on to Rylands Street.

The argument continued and the victim swung a punch at the second man, which didn’t connect.

Sharp then punched him in the head five times, knocking him to the ground before kicking him in the head.

Simon Rogers, prosecuting, said the woman attempted to revive the victim before the group ran away.

A passer-by, who came to the victim’s aid, said: “His face was covered in blood, his nose appeared squashed and his mouth was full of blood.”

Sharp has no previous convictions but was served a fixed penalty notice in September 2006 for disorderly behaviour after a fight with a man in a nightclub.

Michael Davies, defending, said his client had been trying to restrain his friend and initially acted in self-defence.

He argued that it may have been ‘some sort of training, an auto-pilot taking over’ and that Sharp had been subject to stress and pressure in Iraq that may have contributed to his conduct.

He said: “He is really at a loss to explain why he delivered the kick. It was a split-second decision.”

But Judge Thomas Teague responded: “It was a split second decision that could have produced a death.”

Mr Davies added that Sharp had started an anger management course with the Army.

He had already been demoted from a Lance Corporal to the rank of Private.

He said Sharp had been earmarked to take part in a possible mission to the Congo and that any custodial sentence would mean he would be discharged by the end of the week.

Sharp, wearing a suit and tie, stood open-mouthed as he was sentenced to six months in prison.