A man who seriously assaulted a child in the toilets of a Southend restaurant in an unprovoked attack has been jailed for six years.

Liam Taylor 31, of Roseberry Gardens, London, N8, was sentenced to six years at Basildon Crown Court on Thursday for causing GBH.

At an earlier hearing, Taylor pleaded guilty to the assault which took place in KFC in the High Street at about 6.30pm on October 20.

Essex Police issued an appeal for witnesses after the incident, which saw a 13-year-old boy left with numerous significant injuries to his face.

He now has a facial scar after sustaining a deep cut during the vicious attack.

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Taylor was further ordered to pay the victim £500 for the resulting facial injuries.

Police say while the youngster is supported by his family the shocking ordeal has left him devastated.

PC Matthew Howarth, who led the investigation, slammed the "totally unprovoked" and "cowardly" level of violence Taylor directed at the boy.

He said: “The assault was totally unprovoked and the level of violence aimed at the victim who was just 13 at the time, has left him devastated.

"He sustained a broken tooth, a deep cut which will leave a scar and a facial fracture, but, thankfully, he has the love and support of his family.

“The court has seen fit to punish Liam Taylor by imprisoning him so that he can’t assault anyone else in this cowardly way.”