Drunken father stamps on clubber's head in unprovoked street attack 

A drunken father who brutally stamped on the head of a clubgoer in an unprovoked attack has been jailed for three years.

Matthew Bannister, 39, was caught on CCTV attacking Bryn Brooks who was out with friends at a karaoke bar in Maesteg, South Wales. 

The father-of-two started the viscous assault whilst he danced close to Mr Brooks, who was sat down, and punched 'the sitting victim hard to the face’.

After carrying out the assault, door staff pounced into action to remove the two men and their groups of friends from the venue.

But once outside, Bannister threw more punches to Mr Brooks’ face and torso - and stamped on his head - before he was finally pulled away by others.

Mr Brooks blacked out during the attack and suffered wounds to his head which required gluing, as well as fracturing his cheekbone.

He had to take five days off from working in a leisure centre and was unable to eat solid food for three weeks - or play rugby for three months. 

Cardiff Crown Court heard the fight started after a woman in Brooks' friendship group began arguing with another woman outside the Liquid Lounge bar. 

The argument between the females had first began on a train going into Maesteg and subsequently carried on inside the bar.

During the exchange, a drunken man - who was an acquaintance of Bannister - then said heated words to Mr Brooks' girlfriend.

Prosecutor Byron Broadstock said Bannister then joined in the row and Mr Brooks who 'wasn't sure what the argument was about,' asked them to leave his girlfriend alone.

Mr Broadstock said the victim did not 'physically threaten or gesture any violence' towards Bannister. 

After being removed from the venue, Bannister again argued with Mr Brooks' partner and attacked Mr Brooks after he walked towards him.

In his victim impact statement, he said: 'I'm very nervous going out in Maesteg. I'm worried it can happen again.

'I have gone out once or twice and spent most of the night looking over my shoulder, wanting to go home.

'I work in a leisure centre and have worried about him turning up at my workplace.

'I keep replaying the incident in my head and feeling like I could have done more to protect myself.

'I feel humiliation walking through Maesteg as lots of people saw me getting assaulted.'

Bannister initially lied to police and said that he had been defending himself, before admitting unlawful wounding.

But Bannister pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent - until changing his plea to guilty on the day of his trial.

Andrew Taylor, defending, said: 'He has never been before the court for any offence whatsoever.

'It is plain he is a man struck by remorse for what he has done. A hardworking, well thought-of man, a provider for his family.'

He explained that Bannister 'had been drinking all day' and 'unfortunately became embroiled' in the argument.

'The punch delivered was a cowardly punch and he accepts that. There was then a further incident outside,' he said.

'He is beside himself with grief over what he did that night.

'He wishes to apologise to Mr Brooks and to those who witnessed the very serious violence.'

Recorder Andrew Hammond said it was 'a completely unprovoked attack on a man who posed no physical threat to you'.

He added there was 'simply no excuse' for the attack.

The judge sentenced Bannister, of Brynteg, in Maesteg, to three years in jail - where 40 per cent will be served in custody and the rest in the community.