A DRUNKEN thug kicked a man in the face during a street fight outside a seafront pub, leaving him with a broken jaw and in need of surgery.

Dexter Goward, 23, had been drinking at The Borough Hotel, on Southend seafront, before attacking the victim in the street outside.

Basildon Crown Court heard yesterday that the victim had a metal plate fitted during surgery and had to have an extended period off work.

Goward, of Tudor Gardens, Shoebury, had been asked to leave The Borough Hotel prior to the incident.

Prosecuting, Jonathan Ingrim, said: “Mr Goward had been at the Borough Hotel and was quite drunk but had not become aggressive. It was suggested he leave the pub as he was drunk and there was a dispute with another man after a comment was made.

“He took exception to this and found himself in the middle of the road with the man squaring up to each other and he kicked the other man leaving him with a broken jaw in two places.”

He told the court both men were drunk and had been told to leave the pub.

Mitigating for Goward, Conall Bailie, told the court his client had mental health issues and was of good character.

He added: “He’s a young man with a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and immediate custody is not the only option.”

Sentencing, Judge Samantha Leigh, said: “The victim had to have time off work and there are ongoing issues so this is a long-lasting injury. He had to have an operation and a metal plate installed.

“It’s accepted some comment was made to you or the group you were with and it’s clear you were in the middle of the road and you did what is described as roundhouse kick and broke his jaw.”

He admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm and was handed a 16-month sentence, suspended for two years, with 60 days of rehabilitation activity requirement, a community sentence treatment requirement and he was ordered to pay £500 compensation.