Melksham man Paul Bishop has been jailed for 15 months after he punched a man to the ground then kicked his head ‘like a footballer kicking a ball’.

The 28-year-old, of Somerset Crescent, set upon his victim after they had both been at The Tavern pub in Market Place last September.

Marion Langford, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court today that victim Jason Vickers had been out on Thursday, September 11.

Shortly after midnight Mr Vickers was having a cigarette in the garden when he saw the defendant and they exchanged words.

He left the pub and was walking to get something to eat at about 1.30am when he felt a blow to the back of his head.

He then felt another impact on the side of his head and lost consciousness on the ground, she told the court.

Although he did not see what had happened Miss Langford told the court that the attack was witnessed by other people.

“One woman describes how he kicked him like a footballer kicking a ball,” she told the court.

As a result of the attack she said Mr Vickers was taken to hospital where he was found to have suffered a large lump to his head.

He also needed a cut above one eye glued back together and suffered concussion as well as other cuts, bumps and bruises.

Bishop pleaded guilty to a charge of actual bodily harm.

The court heard he had a history of offending including wounding, racially aggravated threatening behaviour, ABH and drunk and disorderly.

Alex Daymond, defending, said his client accepted he was facing a prison term for what he had done.

All of his offending was down to his drink problem and his inability to tackle it over the years.