A thug who left a man with a fractured skull after kicking him and stamping on him has been locked up for three years and four months.

Russell Woolnough also viciously attacked a homeless man and was found to be armed with a knife while threatening police in another incident.

The 20-year-old father, of Jubilee Crescent, Gravesend, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm, assault causing actual bodily harm and possessing a knife.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Woolnough was at a friend’s house in The Grove on July 25 this year when Michael Stallwood started shouting at people.

“On any view this was a horrific attack resulting in very serious injury” - Judge David Griffith-Jones QC

One of those on the receiving end was Woolnough’s girlfriend, who punched Mr Stallwood.

Woolnough shouted abuse at him before picking up a mug and hurling it at him.

He fell to the ground and Woolnough kicked him and banged his head against a wall. He suffered a 5cm wound to his head and a fractured skull.

Part of the bone was displaced and he needed surgery involving a plate being inserted.

“On any view this was a horrific attack resulting in very serious injury,” said Judge David Griffith-Jones QC.

Woolnough had been on bail for the two other offences at the time.

He approached Joe Titman on July 5 when he was living in a tent in Fort Gardens without any real provocation, believing he had committed “some minor act”, said the judge.

“It was far from clear you even got the right person,” he added.

Woolnough punched Mr Titman several times, knocking him to the ground. He continued to punch him and grabbed him by the neck and rained kicks to his head and back.

He stamped on the victim’s head three times before leaving him unconscious. Mr Titman escaped with cuts and bruises.

The knife offence was committed at his parents home in Jubilee Crescent on October 12 last year after a domestic incident.

Police arrived to find Woolnough was being abusive and threatening. He had broken his ankle while doing community service and threatened an officer with a crutch he was using. A Parva spray had to be used to control him.

Woolnough was sentenced to 22 months youth custody for Gbh, 10 months for Abh and eight months for possessing the knife, all consecutive.

Judge Griffith-Jones told him: “These three incidents were quite disgraceful. You used violence, to some extent gratuitously. Since 2006 you have had a lamentable criminal record.”