An alcoholic suffered a fractured eye socket and other injuries after being attacked with a claw hammer at his home during an all-day drinking session, a court heard.

David Mayne had picked up the hammer and told Paul Bond to leave his Sittingbourne flat.

But Bond, 30, grabbed it, beat 60-year-old Mr Mayne about the head and body with it and then sat in a chair and laughed.

Mr Mayne told Maidstone Crown Court in a statement how he was “alcohol reliant”, starting the day drinking his favourite tipple of beer mixed with vodka.

On October 15 last year he went to the George and Dragon pub in the High Street with friend Wendy Ellis.

They were joined by Bond and his girlfriend Michelle Moore, who Mr Mayne did not know.

Prosecutor Andrew Forsyth said all consumed a considerable amount of alcohol during the day.

Mr Mayne suggested they all went to his flat at Mockett Court in Frederick Street to continue drinking. He lived in assisted housing because he suffered from fits.

They bought alcohol and carried on drinking. A heated row later broke out about Ms Moore losing a baby.

Bond became angry, took off his T-shirt and shouted at the two women.

Mr Forsyth said Bond grabbed Mr Mayne in a headlock. Mr Mayne managed to push him off. He picked up the hammer and told Bond to leave.

“He (Bond) reacted angrily and punched him in the face and knocked him to the floor and kicked him,” Mr Forsyth told the jury. “He believed he passed out.

“Mrs Ellis describes seeing Mr Bond striking Mr Mayne a number of times in the face and head with the hammer. After doing so, Mr Bond was sitting in a chair and apparently laughing.

“The ladies called the police and put Mr Mayne in the recovery position. Police found him lying on the floor with Mr Bond next to him, appearing to be asleep.

“A yellow handled hammer was found in the lounge.”

Mr Mayne was taken to Kings College Hospital in London and treated for a fractured left eye socket. His blood was found on the hammer.

When interviewed, Bond exercised his right to silence.

Bond, of The Street, Stockbury, was jailed for 15 months after being convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

He was cleared of the more serious offence of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He denied both charges.

An indefinite restraining order was made, banning contact with the victim.