A thug who battered a 60-year-old man leaving him needing surgery to rebuild his face has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Sean Barclay, 20, of Pomfret Mead Road, Basildon, punched and kicked Trevor Chopping to the ground outside the Cutley Lynch pub, in Hart Road, Thundersley.

Prosecuting Shauna Ritchie alleged the victim was hit with a brick.

She said: "The victim spent three nights in hospital and had reconstructive surgery to his jaw.

"He still has little feeling in his face."

Barclay launched the attack because he thought Mr Chopping had sprayed gas into his grandfather's face, Basildon Crown Court heard.

But in mitigation, Jacqueline Carey said it had been a case of "mistaken identity".

On the same night, last January, Barclay's brother Daniel, 23, of Marylands, Laindon, also launched an attack after leaving the pub.

He chased a man, who was not named in court, to the Rundles, Benfleet, broke into his house and dragged him outside where he punched and kicked him in his front garden.

He was with another man who police have yet to catch.

Judge Daniel Worsley sentenced Sean Barclay to three-and-a-half years in jail for grievous bodily harm and his brother to ten months for actual bodily harm.

He told them: "You have pleaded guilty to very serious offences.

"These are very vicious and dreadful attacks.

"You are both a significant danger to the public and should serve an undetermined custodial sentence.

"If you are released you will be subject to a licence for the rest of your life."

The court heard how Sean Barclay had previous convictions for two assaults, three offences of criminal damage and three public order offences.

His brother had previously been convicted for two assaults.