A thug who pushed a man down stairs at a nightclub, causing serious head wounds, absconded from court before a judge could pass sentence.

Carl Evans admitted unlawful wounding on what would have been the first day of his trial at Maidstone Crown Court today.

But while the judge adjourned briefly for a victim impact statement to be taken, the 26-year-old walked out of the building.

Evans, of Carpeaux Close, Chatham, had taken cocaine when he got into an argument with the victim, Craig Hayward, at Moo Moo Clubrooms in Gillingham on July 1 last year.

He was shown on CCTV footage pulling Mr Hayward to the top of the steep stairs and pushing him down.

Prosecutor Tim Sleigh-Johnson said the victim suffered a 7cm deep cut down to the skull bone in his forehead and a gaping wound beneath his left eye.

The injuries were stitched and he was discharged from hospital the next day.

Told that it was a single blow, Judge Martin Joy said: “On the other hand, with a push down the stairs there is only one chance to do it.”

Eve George, defending, said when she showed the CCTV footage to Evans slowed down, his response was: “My God.”

“This is an incident where his words were he was ‘caught in the moment’,” said Miss George. “He knows custody is at the forefront of your mind.

“It would appear he was highly intoxicated, as was the victim, who couldn’t remember having an altercation with anybody.”

Miss George said Evans’ girlfriend was in the early stages of pregnancy and he was stepfather to her five-year-old daughter.

“As far as she is concerned, stepdaddy has gone out and will be back this afternoon,” she said.

Miss George added that Evans had his leg in a brace after a motorbike accident seven weeks ago. The brace was due to be removed in four weeks.

Judge Joy issued a warrant for Evans’ arrest when he failed to return to court.