A thug has been jailed for three years for a vicious attack in a pub in which he wounded another customer with a pool cue.

Toby Huxley also punched and kicked Robert Reekie and attacked him further after he retreated into the ladies toilets.

The newly married father-to-be was described as normally being a “polite, hard working, decent man” who had built up a business as an electrical engineer.

Crispian Cartwright, defending, added that if jailed Huxley’s business would not be able to continue and he his wife would lose their house.

But after watching CCTV film of the incident, a judge said there had to be a prison sentence.

Mr Reekie had been at the Steam Packet pub in Station Road, Strood, on March 13 last year having a quiet drink and playing pool.

Anne Phillips, prosecuting, said the violence seems to have been triggered when Mr Reekie mentioned something about Huxley’s brother.

Huxley, 26, was seen on the security cameras striking the victim three times with the cue. When others in the pub intervened he lashed out at them.

Mr Reekie staggered off into the toilets to escape but Huxley went after him and punched and kicked him.

The police and an ambulance arrived and Mr Reekie, 45, was taken to hospital.

Mrs Phillips said the victim had an 8cm wound to his scalp that needed stitches.

Huxley immediately accepted responsibility. “I should not have reacted but I did,” he said.

The prosecutor said Mr Reekie was now nervous about going out at night. A scar on his head was visible and he had nightmares.

Huxley, of Station Road, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and affray.

He had a previous conviction for actual bodily harm in 2003 in which he smashed a bottle over the victim’s head in a nightclub. He was given a conditional discharge.

Judge Philip St John-Stevens said the violence was dramatically shown on CCTV. He accepted there was some provocation by Mr Reekie.

It was concerning that Huxley, who had drunk about eight pints of beer, offered violence to others when they tried to stop the attack.