A man has been sentenced for an attack on an injured man outside a night spot — more than three-and-a-half years after throwing the punch.

Jaime Marley, who was high on cocaine and alcohol at the time, floored his victim in Maidstone just 16 minutes after the same man had been attacked by another reveller.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how the victim was left with two fractures to his jaw, but the prosecution were unable to attribute the injuries to Marley.

Marley, now 22, admitted his involvement but claims he was never told when his sentencing hearing was after moving home on two occasions.

Prosecutor Ian Dear said Marley was eventually arrested for breaching his bail - but in the meantime another trial involving a second man collapsed.

Marley admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and failing to answer to bail for the offence which happened in January 2016.

The court heard how the victim was attacked in the early hours of the morning outside the Dusk2Dawn nightclub in King Street.

The prosecutor added that the Crown were unable to say which of the attacks caused the injury to the victim.

"As the blows, were 16 minutes apart it is impossible to say which caused the two fractures.

"[The victim] required a plate in his mouth for one of the fractures and his teeth were also wired."

Natasha Spreadborough, defending, said Marley was never notified about any court hearing after pleading guilty.

She said he was told his sentencing would be after the trial of the second man: "He said he never received any notification and then moved home. He says he did tell the court he had moved but never heard anything else.

"He just buried his head in the sand and at that time he had no legal representation."

Ms Spreadborough added that in January 2016 the glazier had been "drinking heavily and using cocaine."

She added: "He is now in a settled relationship and doesn't do Class A drugs and only drinks on social occasions with family or friends."

Marley, of Barley Way, Ashford received a seven month jail sentence suspended for 18 months and was ordered to do 160 hours of unpaid work for the community.

Judge Martin Huseyin told him: "Although its not possible to say if your punch caused the injury but the fact is you hit someone you knew was vulnerable because you saw the first incident.

"In the nicest possible way I don't want to see you back in court."

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