A football fan who smashed a Manchester United glass on a friend's head has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

The violence erupted after Neil Wallace and alcoholic Jason Payne watched a Chelsea and Benfica match on TV.

Wallace (pictured left) took exception to a comment Mr Payne made about the London team - and attacked him with the glass, leaving a 2in gash to his forehead.

The 46-year-old married grandfather, of Owletts Close, Shepway, denied unlawful wounding but was convicted by a jury.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the attack happened at Mr Payne's flat at Sherringham House on April 5.

Mr Payne said he could remember very little about the evening.

"I am a registered alcoholic," he said. "I began the day's drinking around 10am. I didn't leave the flat, that I can recall."

He said of the assault: "I can't remember much about it. I was dazed and confused. I had been drinking heavily all day. I was too drunk to remember anything.

"I don't remember being taken to hospital. I can remember little bits and pieces."

Questioned by Catherine Donnelly, defending, Mr Payne claimed he did not remember telling police he had opened his door and an Asian man hit him on the head.

He agreed he had said nothing about Wallace. He denied being in a fight with Wallace.

"Drink does talk," he said. Mr Payne admitted still being very drunk when taken to hospital to have his wound stitched.

Neil Wallace was jailed at Maidstone Crown Court

Denying he attacked the victim, Wallace said he saw his light on and went into the flat.

"He was on a chair with blood on his head," he claimed. "The flat was in a mess. The door was open. He was saying something. I phoned my wife to call an ambulance. I took my top off to stop the bleeding."

Miss Donnelly said Wallace was sanguine and accepted the jury's verdict. "He says he knows he has a problem with booze," said Miss Donnelly. "It was at the heart of it that evening."

Judge Charles Byers said Wallace was convicted on overwhelming evidence.

"You were the only person in that flat and you had blood all over your top and trousers," he said. "There was blood on the weapon that was plainly used. That blood was yours.

"Consequently, you have shown no remorse for what you did that evening, which was a vicious attack causing a nasty injury. You have an atrocious record."