A teenage thug involved in the shameful violence that left a German student brain damaged “fought like a wild animal” just two days after he was allowed back into Canterbury city centre.

Charlie Golding and eight youths brawled in front of shocked onlookers in the Fenwick department store in September last year.

The 18-year-old led the charge then attacked a rival with his belt as the fight spilled onto the street.

But Golding has “had the living daylights scared out of him” since being held on remand at a Young Offenders' Institute, where inmates are “bigger and badder”, his lawyers said.

His latest violent episode flared a stone’s throw from where Daniel Ezzedine was brutally attacked in June 2019.

Daniel, then aged 17, suffered life-threatening injuries after Golding and nine others hunted his group in Rose Lane, where he was hit with a bag likely filled with bricks and kicked in the head.

In January last year two of the gang members were put behind bars for inflicting the near-fatal blows, while Golding escaped with a youth rehabilitation order and community service.

He was also banned from entering the city walls until his 18th birthday, on August 30.

But Golding’s group would unleash violence against rivals in the Whitefriars Shopping Centre store at 3pm on September 1 - less than 48 hours after the restriction was lifted.

A security guard described the group as “fighting like wild animals”, Canterbury Crown Court heard on Thursday.

Prosecutor Alexa le Moine said “At approximately 3pm Stanislav Karlien was manning the CCTV of Fenwick, his attention being drawn to a group of young men on the shop floor - the group appeared to be arguing.

“As he entered [the shop floor] he saw the young men fighting like wild animals and ran towards them to stop the fight.

“The group were punching each other.”

Ms le Moine added both groups quickly dispersed, “fighting as they did so,” before Golding’s violence intensified outside.

“The defendant was seen to take his belt off and hit someone,” Miss le Moine said.

Golding, supported by family in the public gallery, was aged 15 when his gang’s attack on Daniel Ezzedine rocked the city.

Jack Barron smashed Daniel in the face with a heavily-loaded bag, while Luke Fogarolli took a running stamp on the student's head.

Daniel was given just a 30% chance of survival, and despite pulling through has been left severely disabled and needing 24/7 care from his family.

Barron and Fogarolli were convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent following a trial last year.

Both were handed six years’ custody at a Young Offenders’ Institute (YOI).

Judge Simon James, who presided over the 10 gang members’ court appearances, told Golding: “On June 6, 2019 you played a prominent part in a violent disorder that brought shame on the city.

“Just two days after you had turned 18 you and a large group of youths were involved in a further violent disorder.

“Again you played a prominent part.

“You led the charge of a group of hooded youths, many of whom were armed.

“You are a thug who gives no thought but to anyone other than yourself.”

The judge re-sentenced Golding to one year in a YOI for the violent disorder in 2019.

The term will run consecutively with a further 20 months for the latest offence, bringing the length of the sentence to two years and eight months.

Golding, of Kemsing Gardens, Canterbury, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at the first opportunity and is working to address mental health issues, his barrister Kieran Brand said.

He added Golding’s punch, delivered with a belt wrapped around his fist, landed on his rival’s shoulder and the violence was “over quite quickly”.

Mr Brand also revealed the five months Golding has spent on remand have been quite the wake-up call for him.

“It has scared the living daylights out of him, and he has no desire to live the life he was living before his incarceration,” he said.

“It has made him realise there are people bigger and badder than he.”

Golding has eight previous convictions for 22 offences, including those against Daniel Ezzedine, violent disorder and possession of a blade in a public place.

Six other teenagers involved in the violence that led to the attack on Daniel were spared immediate custodial sentences last year.

Commenting on the sentencing, PC Georgia England, Kent Police's investigating officer for the latest offence, said: "There is absolutely no place for this kind of mindless violence in Canterbury, or anywhere else in Kent.

"Kent Police takes assaults and anti-social behaviour very seriously and will always work to bring those responsible before the courts.

"I am pleased this violent offender has now been jailed and is no longer able to bring such shameful scenes to the streets of the city."