Drunken louts have turned parts of Kent's town and city centres into no-go areas for decent people, a judge has warned.

The criticism by Judge Simon James followed him viewing CCTV footage of an attack by a drunken yob outside a KFC takeaway in Dover.

That violent incident – involving several people - led to a man being left unconscious.

Judge James told 23-year-old Jamie Clubb: "There are parts of our towns and cities which have become no-go areas for decent people late at night, just exactly because of the drunken yobbery you and your friends were involved with on that night.

"And people are entitled to look to the courts to punish those whose unlawful violence causes alarm, harassment and distress."

He said Clubb, of Mount Road, Dover, had been "literally fighting drunk" during the incident and ordered him to pay compensation to two victims of the affray, Stuart Harvey and Mark Aldridge.

"You were hardly able to stand, yet you were intent on continuing to threaten a man who was clearly unconscious and in no way a threat to you or anybody else.

"You simply didn't care who got in your way, whether they were female or peacemaker seemed to matter not to you... so intent you were on using violence.

"there are parts of our towns and cities which have become no-go areas for decent people late at night…” – judge simon james

"A clear message has to go out that such behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated."

Denzil Pugh, prosecuting, told Canterbury Crown Court that Mr Harvey and friends had been out in March and in the early hours were outside the restaurant.

"On account of no doubt the amount of alcohol he had consumed, Clubb, who was passing, chose to make a totally gratuitous and offensive remark in his direction."

Clubb, who works as a £350-a-week trackman on secondment to Network Rail, then shouted: 'Do you want some?' before the two grappled and fell to the ground.

Mr Pugh added: "Clubb's friends joined in and what happened next is not entirely clear but a further punch was thrown at Mr Harvey, knocking him to the ground and rendering him unconscious.

"Friends of the victim then tried to keep Clubb away, who was clearly very angry and belligerent. One woman then attempted to slap Clubb and he then threatened to headbutt her, saying he didn't care if she was a girl.

"Although there is no evidence that the punch which knocked Mr Harvey to the ground came from Clubb, the CCTV footage clearly shows him throwing a punch at someone else in the group."

Mr Harvey's friend Mr Aldridge was then punched as he tried to pacify the drunken yob, the court heard.

Richard Saynor, defending, said: "He was acting in an aggressive and unpleasant manner that evening. He accepts that he was involved in acts of violence. He is now extremely remorseful and regrets that he had drunk so much."

The judge gave Clubb a six-month jail sentence - suspended for 12 months - and ordered him to do 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay Mr Harvey £100 and Mr Aldridge £50 compensation and £150 costs.