A DRUNKEN thug battered a man to the floor while his terrified son looked on in horror.

David Child has been spared jail after he flew into a rage and attacked the man in Benfleet last year.

The 44-year-old had gone to Borrowdale Road, on November 30, where his ex partner lived with their six-year-old son, and her new partner.

Child waited outside the home for the man to come out with his son and their dog.

Despite attempts to avoid Child and walk away, the thug approached the victim and punched him in the back of the head. He continued the vicious attack, punching and kicking the man until he was curled up in a ball on the floor.

At Child’s sentencing hearing on Wednesday at Chelmsford Crown Court, Caroline Moonan, prosecuting, said: “His son was screaming and was very upset. He told him this, but Child said he didn’t care and then punched a street sign.

“This went on for about 15 minutes. He was arrested and said to police he had beat ten bells out of him. He said: ‘I know I’m going to prison but it was worth it’.”

The man suffered severe bruising and swelling to his face, and it was feared his retina in one eye would fall out. However, his sight has since recovered.

Child, of Bartley Road, Benfleet, admitted assault by beating and breaching his restraining order which had banned him visiting the home.

In mitigation, the court heard Child said since his arrest he has made “significant steps” to tackle his alcoholism including attending Alcoholics Anonymous.

Judge Andrew Hurst gave Child a two year prison term suspended for two years.

He said: “It’s important to take steps to put your life in order to have some plan for when you can see your son, and let your estranged wife go.”