A thug who viciously attacked a pub landlord after he was thrown out for causing trouble has been jailed for 12 years.

Wearing steel toe cap boots, powerfully built Andrew Bell gripped a wall as he jumped up and down on Stephen Campbell who was lying helpless on the ground.

Under an extended sentence, following a finding he was a danger to the public, the 43-year-old will have to serve nine years before the parole board will consider his release. He will be on licence for a further two years at the end of the full term.

Bell was already drunk when he went to The Royal George pub in Chatham High Street on September 5 2013, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

“You were plainly drunk. It was a terrifying and persistent assault. The injuries indicate it was ferocious, as described by a witness” - Recorder Jason Dunn-Shaw

He was served with a beer but landlady Lamaya Tyson asked him to leave because he was abusive. He did so but returned later and caused more trouble, taking a swing at a customer and hitting Miss Tyson.

Mr Campbell came downstairs, followed Bell outside and barred him from the pub, which has since closed down.

He turned around to head back to the bar, but recalled little after that until he woke up in hospital.

A witness had seen Bell run up behind the victim and grab his arm and punch him, knocking him to the ground. He then kicked him in the ribs and head.

The witness went to call the police. When he returned, Bell was still kicking Mr Campbell.

“He grabbed the wall with both hands and started jumping up and down on the landlord who was prostrate on the ground,” said prosecutor Anthony Prosser.

The witness said Bell kicked the victim over a dozen times, adding: “I can honestly say he wanted to kill him. I saw the landlord do nothing at all.”

Police officers arrived to find Mr Campbell lying in a pool of blood. He was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital, but escaped serious injury.

Bell, of Boundary Road, Chatham, denied attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, but was convicted. He also denied assaulting Miss Tyson and was acquitted of that charge.

Recorder Jason Dunn-Shaw told Bell: “You were plainly drunk. It was a terrifying and persistent assault. The injuries indicate it was ferocious, as described by a witness.”