A THUG pumped up on steroids who slashed a man with a meat cleaver has been jailed for ten years.

Ronald Olliffe, 30, launched the sickening attack outside the Sunrooms, in Market Place, Southend.

He lost his temper after bouncers kicked one of his friends out of the bar for taking drugs in the toilet on March 26 last year.

A fight spilled out on to the street before Olliffe went to a van in the nearby car park to get a meat cleaver and take his revenge.

He was joined by a friend armed with a 4ft long piece of wood.

Olliffe chased one of the bouncers towards Alexandra Street with the weapon before turning his attentions on by-stander Mark Yeogh, 42.

Judge Alan Saggerson said blows had rained down on the victim who brought his arm up in an attempt to protect his head.

During yesterday’s sentencing at Basildon Crown Court, Mr Saggerson: “This was a pre-meditated attack.

“This was not a momentary loss of temper or self control.

“You deliberately went away from the club on the night in question in order to retrieve a pretty vicious and a pretty potentially damaging weapon.”

But Sean Horstead, mitigating, said the offences weren’t committed in a “vacuum”, as Olliffe had been struggling with a custody battle over his three-year-old daughter and had turned to steroids.

He had hoped the drugs would help him with some physical training, but they had an adverse effect on his temper.

Olliffe, of Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, denied commiting grievous bodily harm and affray throughout hs trial, claiming it was a case of mistaken identity.

But Mr Horstead said his client now accepted his guilt and had lied because his elderly father was suffering from prostate cancer and he wanted the chance to say goodbye.

Judge Saggerson added: “I accept your behaviour was significantly influenced by the abuse of significant amounts of steroids and it is obvious in your case the effect a lengthy prison sentence will be disproportionate on your family, not least of all your daughter and now, I’m told, your frail father.

“Counsel has done his best to find a few glimmers of light in your case.

“Better late than never, you’ve at last accepted publicly your guilt and responsibility for this attack, and the damage you’ve done.

“There’s something to be said for that I suppose.”