A man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after launching a vicious attack on a man with a baseball bat as he answered the door.

Steven Draper, 33, of Maidstone Road, Nettlestead Green, travelled to the victim's home in Gunlands, Horsmonden with an accomplice on Sunday, April 2 last year.

Draper had ended up in a fight with his victim the night before at a pub in the village.

After the door was opened, Draper repeatedly swung the baseball bat at him and aimed further punches at the man's head.

The ordeal only came to an end after a relative shouted at Draper to stop and the man was left with a deep cut on his forehead.

Draper was arrested on Tuesday, April 25 last year, but denied any wrongdoing.

He was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

Appearing before Maidstone Crown Court, he pleaded not guilty and the case went to trial on Monday, November 12. He was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in jail last week.

Detective constable Chris Relf said: "Steven Draper was responsible for a pre-planned and sustained assault, which could easily have caused far greater injury.

"I have no doubt the psychological impact will also stay with the victim for a very long time and I only hope he will be able to take some reassurance now that justice has now been served."