A thug who took part in an attack which left a Medway man with multiple facial fractures was locked up for two years today.

Gurdev Gill was one of three Asian men who punched and kicked Michael Ellis outside the Ace Wine Store in Strood in January last year.

Mr Ellis was drunk at the time and described at Maidstone Crown Court as "vulnerable". He was unable to defend himself and suffered fractures to his nose, left cheekbone and eye socket.

Gill, 19, landed one punch on Mr Ellis before kicking him once as he tried to get up from the ground. However, the two other men were then said to have kicked and stamped on Mr Ellis's head and he later needed extensive surgery to insert metal plates into his face.

Violence erupted after Mr Ellis, who was unsteady on his feet, bumped into one of the trio. He apologised but words were exchanged. Gill, who had smoked four cannabis joints that day, left the shop, only for Mr Ellis to follow.

The incident was captured on CCTV and Gill was later identified as kicking Mr Ellis to his body.

He claimed during his trial in March that he was not part of a joint enterprise responsible for Mr Ellis's injuries - but was convicted by a jury of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The two other men were never charged in relation to the attack.

Ordering that Gill, of Gravesend Road, Strood, be locked up in a young offenders' institution, Judge Richard Polden said that by attacking Mr Ellis first he had "clearly encouraged" the others to join in.

"I accept it was unwise of Mr Ellis to follow you after you left the shop and there was, to some extent, some provocation by his actions," commented the judge.

"But it was clear in my judgement that he was in no fit state to fight and you ought to have been aware of that."

The court heard that Mr Ellis has suffered serious physical and psychological effects from the assault.