A self-styled preacher who attacked a restaurant owner - after claiming a female staff member was "showing her boobs", has been jailed for eight years and three months.

Baseball cap-wearing Hamdi Braiek jumped on the head of his victim during a "ferociously violent" attack in Brenchley Gardens in Maidstone in May last year.

The 34 year-old, who has done national service with the Tunisian Army - admitted causing Mukhtar Hussain, 35, grievous bodily harm with intent - and was acquitted by a jury of attempted murder, a charge he had denied.

After hearing of his sentence, arrogant Braiek retorted: "Eight years and three months for defending myself."

He had earlier attacked a transgender couple walking in the street asking if what they were doing was in line with their religious beliefs.

But Braiek has now told his barrister he no longer held his view "and accepts he misunderstood what the Koran was saying and he was wrong".

Judge Julian Smith - Maidstone's newly-appointed resident judge - heard how the victim was still suffering a "significant cognitive impact" a year after the attack.

He told him: "This was a wholly one-sided confrontation with Braiek acting as the aggressor throughout and has shown no remorse."

The judge said CCTV footage had shown "real intent" by Braiek who stamped on the head when his victim was lifeless and unconscious.

"This was naked aggression caused by him being challenged by Mr Hussein."

Maidstone Crown Court heard how Mr Hussein is part-owner of Grill 91, a takeaway restaurant in Week Street, Maidstone.

Earlier that day Braiek - an Uber Eats delivery driver of Hart Street, Maidstone - was involved in a row with a transgender woman.

Prosecutor Daniel Stevenson said: "At around 4pm in Fremlin Walk he punched victim Skye Baxter, who identifies as a woman and friend Alex Kerr.

"They were walking along Fremlin walk minding their own business.

"The defendant took exception to Skye Baxter’s transgender appearance and questioned whether she was a woman, and whether her trans identity was consistent with a belief in God, Jesus, or Mohammed."

The prosecutor added: "Whatever his personal views were, he had no business expressing them to Skye Baxter.

"Skye Baxter responded robustly and provocatively to his transphobic questioning. She said she believed in a God.

"In response to this remark, the defendant launched an attack on Skye Baxter, swinging punches to her face. He then also assaulted Alex Kerr. Fortunately, neither were seriously injured, " he added.

Later, he told police that he had assaulted the male and female after he tried to warn them about judgement day, he later admitted the two assaults.

Two hours later at 6.30pm, Braiek went into Grill 91 in Maidstone and complained that a female member of staff "had her boobs out" which offended him. He said it was "unprofessional."

"So he gave her words of advice because he was unhappy with the way that she was dressed.

"Again, you may think that the way in which a member of staff working in a hot takeaway restaurant chose to dress was absolutely none of his business," said Mr Stevenson.

"So he gave her words of advice because he was unhappy with the way that she was dressed..."

The two men (Mukhtar Hussain and Baiek) then walked to Brenchley Gardens when Braiek threw the first punch - claiming the victim had said he was armed with a knife. No weapon was ever found, the court heard.

George Ayling, who works at the Society Rooms Wetherspoons Public House on Week Street, told how he saw the defendant rugby-tackling the victim to the ground before delivering several blows to his head.

The prosecutor added: "Mr Ayling saw Mr Hussain trying to get up, but he appeared dazed.

"The defendant continued to attack Mr Hussain, getting him in a headlock, or a chokehold, keeping him in this position for about 30 seconds.

"So far as Mr Ayling could see, Mr Hussain was unconscious because he was no longer moving or struggling," he alleged.

He told court that "despite the victim's incapacity" Braiek "increased ferocity" stamping on Mr Hussein's head several times.

The victim was later airlifted to Kings College Hospital in London where he underwent a CT scan which confirmed that he had suffered a bleed on the brain.

The prosecutor added that Mr Hussein was until recently an inpatient at the Blackheath Brain Injury Rehabilitation Clinic, requiring one-to-one care.

"He remains profoundly cognitively impaired. He suffers from confusion and confabulation and does not have the capacity to give an account or to give evidence."

The prosecutor added that Mr Hussain may never be able to return to paid employment and his wife was expecting their third child when the attack happened.

She told the judge in an impact statement: "It is heartbreaking to know my husband went through this. He was a healthy and hard-working man."

Speaking after sentencing Detective Sergeant Jamie Webb, from West Kent CID, said: "Hamdi Braiek was responsible for a brutal assault which has caused devastating and life changing injuries to his victim, who is sadly no longer able to work and remains in need of constant care.

"Our investigation has shown that Braiek was also the perpetrator of several other incidents of wanton acts of violence in Maidstone.

"He is an offender who has demonstrated little if any remorse for his actions, and who has made excuses for his savage behaviour by blaming others.

"Today’s sentence will at least ensure Braiek no longer poses a threat within our communities."