A holiday park boss has been jailed after a man was left needing surgery for serious facial injuries in a “brutal” attack.

Bernard Saunders, who recently put millions of pounds into a leisure park on the Isle of Sheppey with his brother, has been sentenced for grievous bodily harm (GBH) after hitting his victim with an axe handle.

The 30-year-old was arrested after an incident in London Road, Stanford-le-Hope in Essex on March 21, where a man was left with such serious injuries he needed surgery.

At about 11.30am the victim was at work and saw Saunders, a father-of-one, before running away. However, a short while later he saw Saunders again who approached him while holding an axe handle.

A police spokesman explained: “Despite trying to evade Saunders by running across a busy roundabout, Saunders caught him and attacked him, leaving him with three separate facial injuries which later required surgery.

“Saunders left the scene and left the victim in a serious condition on the street after the attack.

“Using ANPR and CCTV cameras, officers were able to identify Saunders and, on April 1, arrested him as he tried to leave the country.

‘This was a brutal assault in broad daylight on the streets...’

“Further investigation at Saunders’ home address found a handle believed to be the weapon used in the attack as well.”

Saunders was initially charged with GBH with intent and pleaded not guilty, but later pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of GBH the day before he was due to stand trial, and the court accepted the plea.

As well as 28 months imprisonment, he was given a six-year restraining order.

Speaking after the sentencing PC Harry Bass said: “This was a brutal assault in broad daylight on the streets of Essex.

“The victim has undergone extensive surgery and recovery following this attack – it was vital Saunders was jailed for his violent actions.”

Earlier this year, Saunders and his brother John spoke to KentOnline about their dreams to introduce more jobs and a “higher standard” to Eden Leisure Park in Warden Road, Eastchurch.

The brothers grew up in Rainham and spent time in Sittingbourne and on the Isle of Sheppey.

Speaking in March, Bernard Saunders said: “This park’s popped up, and we’ve purchased it, and we want to purchase more because we’ve got the ready funds available to do so.

“We’re not greedy park operators, we haven’t come in here and put our site fees up and up and up like other operators do in the industry.

“We’ve come in here with the view of moving forward and making sure all the residents are happy.”