A thug who repeatedly struck two strangers with a heavy nitrous oxide canister in a late-night street attack has been jailed.

A raging Lauchlan Pritchard lashed out after randomly accusing his victims of laughing at him as they sat outside a block of flats in Maidstone town centre.

One was knocked unconscious in the unprovoked assault while the other came under fire as he was chased into the road.

Having then walked away still brandishing the canister, Pritchard forced a frightened takeaway delivery driver to flee his car, enabling him to make his getaway before abandoning the Citroën damaged in a ditch on the A229.

The 25-year-old, who has a criminal record for violent offences dating back 12 years, was even sarcastic following his arrest.

Having been asked who was responsible for the relentless attack, which left one of the victims with a potentially life-threatening bleed to the brain, he smugly told police: "You're the detectives. You work it out."

Once in court, he also tried to blame his "extreme" violence on his alcohol consumption.

But as was pointed out to him as he was sentenced to more than six years behind bars, he had shown no signs of any profound intoxication as he "aimed and struck" multiple blows on his hapless victims.

Pritchard had not long been out of prison for a 141-mile police pursuit from his home in Gloucestershire to West Malling when the attack occurred shortly after 4am on May 19 this year.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that Ben Hynes and another man were sitting outside Miller Heights when they were approached by Pritchard, who they did not know, shouting 'Are you laughing at me?'

But even though Mr Hynes told him they were not, he then started lunging towards the pair, hitting them several times over the head with the laughing gas canister.

CCTV footage showed the pair retreating, only to be pursued by their assailant.

"He caught up with Mr Hynes and tried to hit him. He then hit the other man to the head, causing him to fall to the ground where he hit his head on the pavement," said Mr Blackman.

"The defendant continued to chase Mr Hynes, and was seemingly in a rage."

The court heard Mr Hynes put his hands out to stop the blows and at one point even tried to seek help from a passing driver.

But an unrelenting Pritchard then turned his attention back to the man lying on the ground and attempted to strike him once more.

At this point a desperate Mr Hynes tried to protect his friend by putting himself in the way. However, as he tried to stand up, he was beaten again with the canister and knocked unconscious.

With him lying prone at the roadside, Pritchard simply strolled off, leaving Mr Hynes to help his stricken pal.

The yob, who has 19 previous convictions for 33 offences, including assaults, battery, possessing a bladed article, threatening behaviour and harassment, first went to a nearby takeaway outlet, ordering staff to call him a taxi.

When they refused, he then forced a Citroen being driven by Muhammad Wakeel to stop, clambered in and ordered him to 'Drive! Drive!'

A scared Mr Wakeel initially complied, only to be confronted with a demand for money before being punched and his phone struck against the windscreen.

"He was sufficiently scared that he got out of the car and ran away," continued the prosecutor. "The defendant chased him, then came back and tried to drive the car.

"Mr Wakeel tried to get the keys back but was again threatened with the canister and the defendant drove away."

The car was later spotted driving past a pub at Linton Hill at speed before being discovered by an off-duty officer in a ditch.

Pritchard, of Pennine Road, Cheltenham, was eventually arrested after being identified through DNA swabs and clothing.

Referring to his subsequent police interview, Mr Blackman told the court: "He answered 'No comment' save when asked whether someone else was responsible he said words to the effect of 'You're the detectives. You work it out.'."

In the meantime, both victims required hospital treatment for their injuries.

The court heard that one of them had a three-inch wound to the back of his head, as well as swelling and bruising. He had to take medication to prevent seizures and at one point it was feared he may need brain surgery.

Long-term, he had suffered permanent scarring, memory issues, hearing impairment and migraines, as well as panic attacks, poor sleep and anxiety.

In his victim impact statements he described how he could have been killed and "robbed" of his future with his children.

"The injuries were so severe I could have died. He could have killed me, robbed me of my future with my children and being able to lead a normal life," he wrote.

"I did nothing to deserve this attack. It was completely unprovoked. It makes me worried how it could have happened.

"It bothers me that something this big could happen and leave me with no memory of it."

Mr Hynes suffered bruising and swelling to the head, face, left arm and elbow.

He told police: "It was an extremely disgraceful attack. It was unprovoked and could have led to one of us being killed."

Pritchard, who has ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder, later pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possessing an offensive weapon, aggravated vehicle taking and assault by beating.

The court was told he had "little or no" recollection of the incident, save for drinking to excess and then waking up from a black-out in a field.

"He apologises unreservedly for the injuries that his violence caused," said Kevin Walsh, defending. "The effect of alcohol on him is profound.

"He has had flashbacks in prison and is sickened by his actions....It's all down to alcohol and it's quite scary the effect alcohol has on him.

"Whether or not it's brain chemistry he recognises he cannot drink ever again. He has never done anything like this before and is shocked by it."

But Mr Walsh said that since being recalled to prison following his arrest, he had achieved enhanced status and hopes to qualify as a landscape gardener.

His wife was also said to be "sticking by him", on the proviso he gives up alcohol.

But in ruling that an extended sentence was needed to protect the public from any future risk, Judge Robert Lazarus told Pritchard he had "a desire to blame intoxication rather than considering issues of character and personality".

"What we can say is that this was caused by alcohol and the only real protective factor is your assertion you will not drink again," said the judge.

"That is something easier said than done and you have not achieved this in the 12 years since your first violent offence."

Pritchard was handed a sentence totalling eight years and four months.

This comprises a jail term of five years and three months for the attacks, of which he must serve at least two-thirds before he can apply for parole.

Once released, he will then have two years added to any licence period.

For the incident involving Mr Wakeel, Pritchard was handed a consecutive jail term of 13 months, of which he will serve 40% before he can be automatically released.

Judge Lazarus told Pritchard : "This was a shocking offence. It's entirely clear to me that you had a determined resolve to inflict serious harm to a complete stranger who had done you no wrong.

"You pursued your assault relentlessly and would not back down.

"You had consumed alcohol and nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide is not noted for generating violence in people who use it. The same cannot be said for alcohol.

"But I note, having seen the video, that you appear to show no sign of profound intoxication. You appear able to walk in a straight line and without any instability, and you clearly had no problem aiming and striking your blows.

"In any event, if you know this is the effect alcohol has on you, you should not have been drinking at all.

"This was a persistent assault and given the injuries sustained, the weapon was obviously dangerous."

Referring to the brain bleeds, Judge Lazarus remarked it was "by good fortune and nothing else" that one of the victims had not suffered "the dreadful disabilities" often caused by such "horrendous injuries".

He also told Pritchard that his mitigation had "little influence" in deciding the appropriate punishment, given not only his failure in the past to engage with mental health services and take his prescribed medication, but also his "sarcastic" attitude on arrest.

Restraining orders in respect of the three victims were imposed for 10 years, as well as a driving ban for five years and 15 days.

Detective constable Alice Henham said: “Pritchard was responsible for an utterly senseless and barbaric assault on two men who were simply minding their own business.

“Our investigation provided irrefutable evidence of Pritchard’s involvement, leaving him no choice but to plead guilty. This included DNA from the scene of the assault, as well as from the car and the canister, along with CCTV images and a photo from a social media account which showed him wearing identical clothing to the suspect.”