by Julia Roberts

A drunken lout who left a man brain damaged following an argument at a Gravesend taxi rank has been jailed.

Jim Parkinson, 58, fell to the ground and struck his head on the pavement after being punched by Benjamin Turner outside Pizza Go Go in New Road in May 2008.

Both had been to Wembley to see Ebbsfleet United beat Torquay 1-0 in the FA Trophy Final, but trouble flared when Turner, 26, and his friends barged their way into the taxi queue.

Turner, of Downs Road, Istead Rise, was convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm and jailed for two-and-a-half years after a jury deliberated for more than 15 hours. He denied the charge.

During the trial at Maidstone Crown Court he was branded a “drunken lout” who caused life threatening injuries by the prosecution.

Passing sentence, Judge Martin Joy said Mr Parkinson had been the victim of “completely unnecessary and sickening violence”.

For the full story see this week's Gravesend Messenger, out Thursday.