A thug has been jailed for an unprovoked attack which broke a Gravesend man's jaw in two places.

Callum Crosier was left with plates in his face after the vicious street assault by Dean Sheppard, who will spend two years and four months behind bars.

A judge told the 29-year-old father, of Howard Road, Dartford: “You are a very large man. I have no doubt you used your height, weight and bulk as an intimidatory factor.”

Maidstone Crown Court heard Mr Crosier and his fiance had gone out for the evening for the first time since their eight-month-old child was born.

Accompanied by friends, they first went to a pub in Gravesend on October 2 last year and then headed for The Factory in Queen Street.

Martin Yale, prosecuting, said on their way to the club and bar they encountered another group of friends, including Sheppard.

An argument started between women in the two groups and Mr Crosier went over to try to calm the situation.

“The defendant approached and went towards Mr Crosier in an aggressive manner,” said Mr Yale. “There came a point where a punch was thrown by Mr Sheppard. It connected with his jaw. He immediately felt his jaw was broken.”

Sheppard, who has previous convictions for violence, was tracked by CCTV operators and arrested after a struggle.

The victim was taken to Darent Valley Hospital and then transferred to a facial unit at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead for specialist treatment.

Mr Yale said Mr Crosier now even had difficulty in simply eating an apple.

Sheppard admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm. His previous convictions included wounding, common assault and actual bodily harm.