A thug jailed for a late-night attack on a Gillingham father-of-five who died days later today had his sentence cut on appeal.

Robert Alderman, 21, of Canadian Avenue, Gillingham, repeatedly punched 43-year-old Paul Scott after seeing him drunkenly vandalising a car late on February 10.

Mr Scott, of Franklin Road, died days after the attack after suffering a deep vein thrombosis caused by a leg injury.

Alderman was tried for murder, but a Maidstone Crown Court jury in August was not convinced he caused the injury and he was instead jailed for two years for affray.

But today, after an appeal by his lawyers, three Court of Appeal judges said the sentence was too tough and cut it to 20 months.

The court heard Alderman was on his way to a nightclub and Mr Scott on his way home from the Palm Cottage Social Club with friends and family when they clashed.

Mr Scott was attempting to damage the wing mirror of a car and was accosted by Alderman, who punched him to the face, breaking his nose.

He fell to his knees, but was hit again two or three times by Alderman, who also struck Mr Scott's brother, Gary Chaplin.

The following day, Mr Scott was treated in hospital – but suffered a seizure days later. He died of a pulmonary embolism caused by deep vein thrombosis.

Alderman claimed to have struck Mr Scott in self-defence, but Judge Milford said the victim was twice his age.