By Staff Reporter

Last updated 10:35, Saturday, 11 October 2008

A thug who kicked a man’s crutches away and stamped on his head so hard that he left a shoe print on it has been jailed.

Martin Hodgson, 21, attacked Martin Kennedy outside The White Lion Hotel in Brampton, where they had been drinking into the early hours – to celebrate the victim’s progress recovering from back pain.

He had been standing outside, shouting for more drink, when Mr Kennedy told him to go home, Carlisle Crown Court was told.

But Hodgson became threatening, kicking his victim’s crutch away, causing him to fall to his knees. He then kicked him in the head and Mr Kennedy fell to the ground, where he was then hit on the lower back.

Both men had been drinking and playing pool together in the White Lion to celebrate Mr Kennedy receiving a pain-killing injection to relieve his condition, the court heard.

Hodgson, of Stanley Road, Brampton, admitted causing actual bodily harm.

Malcolm Dodds, defending, said his client – a catering student – had written to Mr Kennedy and apologised. He had also sought help for drink-related problems.

He said references for Hodgson described him as a “helpful, likeable young man” and he hoped this would be a one-off.

But, sentencing Hodgson to 16 months in prison, Judge Paul Batty QC said he had cruelly attacked a defenceless man at 6am after drinking into the small hours.

He added: “That sort of drunken violence and gratuitous behaviour will not be tolerated here in Carlisle.”

Hodgson is also banned from all pubs in Brampton town centre.