A thug erupted in anger and broke the jaw of his girlfriend's father after he was taunted about his own dad's death, a court heard.

Jonathon Peek was caught on CCTV cameras 'ferociously' knocking out Glen Evenden in Strood High Street before sprinting off.

The 27-year-old, of Hillside Road, Chatham, previously had a suspended sentence after assaulting and biting police officers.

The labourer will be separated from his partner, Cassey Evenden, and their young child after being jailed on Friday for four years.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Mr Evenden was angry about Peek previously assaulting his daughter.

Deborah Champion, defending, said there was some provocation before the violence on September 26 this year.

Peek had been given a four-month suspended prison sentence by magistrates in May last year for assaulting Miss Evenden, as well as three police officers when arrested.

He punched and kicked one PC and inflicted bites on another officer.

"When he first saw this clip of what he had done he burst into tears. He was extremely distressed" - Deborah Champion, defending.

Miss Champion said: "The defendant was well aware of Mr Evenden’s hostility towards him, he made it clear at magistrates court."

"He expressed his anger for what he perceived as a beating up of his daughter. He hadn’t seen him for over a year. He had been getting on with his community service and trying to deal with a number of problems. Most distressing was that his father died of cancer five months before this incident.

“That was known to the victim. The CCTV makes distressing viewing. He was simply on his way home. He heard his name called, his partner’s father began to goad him. He even mentioned he was on a suspended sentence."

"He referred to him as beating up his daughter and when he started to walk away the victim said: ‘You are not leaving the square.’ He continued to goad him. He said to him ‘How is your dad’, knowing he had died.

“He fully accepts he lost control. When he first saw this clip of what he had done he burst into tears. He was extremely distressed. He knows he had absolutely no cause to do what he did. He is utterly remorseful.”

Judge Philip St John-Stevens said he accepted there was a degree of provocation but it did not justify what was clearly seen on CCTV footage.

“The ferocity of the attack was there for all to see,” he said. “You repeatedly punched him to the head, which was against the ground.

“There were approximately nine punches when he was helpless. You ran off and left him unconscious.”

The judge said Peek’s greatest mitigation was that he pleaded guilty. “It demonstrates your contrition and sorrow,” he added.

Peek was sentenced to three years and eight months for causing grievous bodily harm with intent and four months consecutive for breaching the suspended sentence.