A bully downed two bottles of brandy during birthday celebrations before breaking a man’s eye-socket in a brawl.

Leo Hricko, who “does not ordinarily drink”, fractured Craig Lashmar’s face in two places as a melee unfolded in Ramsgate.

The 23-year-old, of Margate, was today jailed for four years at Canterbury Crown Court, following the assault in Harbour Parade in August 2019.

Hricko kicked his victim in the head after knocking him down with a series of punches to the face, prosecutors explained.

“It was around 3am when Mr Lashmar was out in the Harbour Parade area of Ramsgate with four of his friends," Emily Smith said.

“One can see on the CCTV a melee taking place, a fracas, and the defendant was part of that group.

“As what followed, Mr Lashmar was approached by this defendant, they were unknown to each other.

“A witness describes a punch to the face causing Mr Lashmar to fall to the floor, he was then punched two further times and then there were kicks.”

Ms Smith explained Mr Lashmar suffered damage to his eyelid which, if operated on, could result in permanent blindness.

Meanwhile, officers traced retail worker Hricko nearby where he continued to act aggressively.

Following his arrest he claimed to have no recollection of the violence after drinking two bottles of brandy while celebrating his birthday.

Speaking shortly after the attack, Mr Lashmar told the authorities the assault left him suffering mentally.

“Sorry about what my son has done, it was so unexpected, he just wanted to celebrate his 21st birthday...."

“Mr Lashmar was feeling anxious around big groups of people when he went out, and looked over his shoulder expecting trouble to be caused,” Ms Smith explained.

Hricko pleaded guilty earlier this year to causing wounding with intent, prompting terse words from a judge.

Judge Mark Weekes said: “You approached a male you didn’t know, you punched him to the floor and then (delivered) two full strength kicks, with at least one landing on the head area of your victim.

“That was an astonishingly dangerous act, kicking him to the head was an act of thuggery, you could easily have blinded him, you could have caused him brain injuries, you could have killed him.”

Hricko, of previous good character, “drunk far too much and consequently unable to remember what happened,” his lawyer Kerry Waite said.

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“He is at a loss to understand his behaviour on the night of this incident.”

Hricko’s mum handed Judge Weekes a letter claiming the violence will “never be repeated.”

“Sorry about what my son has done, it was so unexpected, he just wanted to celebrate his 21st birthday.

“My son is not a bad person, he grew up here, had an education and never got in trouble with the police.

“I have lived at my address for over 10 years and all my neighbours know that he has a good bubbly character. He likes helping people when they need it most.

“He was drunk and stupid please give him a chance to prove is a good person and what he has done is a mistake.

“I can vouch for him this will never be repeated, ever,” it said.