A father-to-be who fractured a man's skull while holding a large tin of soup has been jailed for 15 months.

Victim Alan Nolan senses of taste and smell have been diminished by the injury but his attacker will be free in about seven months.

A judge at Maidstone Crown Court told Chatham man Matthew Jones: "It is my duty to ensure that victims of this type of attack are protected by the courts."

The court heard Mr Nolan had been out in Maidstone on March 16 last year and in the early hours went to get a taxi home.

He became involved in a disagreement with a friend of Jones. Mr Nolan went to leave and Jones pushed him in the back.

He was hit by two blows and was believed to have cracked his skull as he hit the ground.

He was taken to hospital, where it was discovered the front part of his brain was bruised and bleeding.

Martin Yale, prosecuting, said although Jones had been seen with the can of chicken soup, it was not visible on CCTV footage of the incident.

Judge Philip Statman said he would, therefore, put out of his mind that the tin was used as a weapon.

When arrested, Jones said he had drunk up to nine pints of larger and could remember little because he was "fairly sloshed".

The 23-year-old labourer, of Ramillies Close, Chatham, denied inflicting grievous bodily harm - but was convicted.

Simon Wickens, defending, submitted that a suspended sentence was appropriate