A man has been cleared of deliberately causing life-changing injury to a rival which left him in a coma.

Liam Bayliss, 24, had earlier admitted to unlawfully causing the injuries to Joe Shaw after the drunken fight near Rokka Bar in Ramsgate.

But a jury at Canterbury Crown Court took an hour today to find him not guilty of intending to cause serious injuries.

Bayliss, of Newcastle Hill in Cliftonville, Margate, had denied claims that he had kicked the victim who lay injured on the ground after the scrap.

He told the jury: “I punched him but I never kicked him” as he recalled the victim collapsing after being punched.

“Joe Shaw closed his eyes and fell backwards. I wasn't expecting that to happen not one bit.

"He went back and his head hit the ground it was like a loud thud noise.

“I stepped back and looked straight down at Joe. He was lying lifeless on his back.”

Bayliss, had gone out with a pal and drank beer and other drinks.

“He said come on let’s go and took off his top..." - Liam Bayliss

He told the jury: “My memory is not too good because I was very drunk and when I first left the Cliques I was in an agitated mood.

"I remember getting grabbed by the scruff of my neck by my friend Kevin Conlin and we moved towards Harbour Street towards the taxi office. I was going to get a taxi back to Kevin's house.

"I remember arguing with a male and a female for reasons I don't know why. It ended by me shaking his hand and giving the girl a cuddle.”

He said his friend then dragged away towards another taxi rank

He added: “I shouting randomly I was getting more agitated and angry because Kev was trying to control me.

"I was shouting what’s everyone doing? Where’s the party? Somebody shouted back saying: 'Look at the state of you. You are wrecked’. So I walked over to them.

"I was being loud and shouting: ‘Someone hit me!’. I was in a drunken state of mind. I was trying to start a fight but I don't know why.”

He claimed Mr Shaw then slapped him twice in the face and telling him to be quiet and the two ended up fighting.

“He said come on let’s go and took off his top. I stepped back to the middle of the road. He was coming towards me.

"Joe seems up for a fight and I was egging him on. He carried on walking and I was throwing punches to put distances between us.

“The first two missed but the third hit him in the face. I was hoping someone would have got in the middle. I had changed my mind after seeing the size of Joe who was bigger than myself.

"I thought I had started with the wrong person and I was going to get beaten up. I didn't want to fight.”

After the incident Mr Shaw was taken to hospital where he has remained with life-changing head injuries.