A MAN was kicked in the groin and left unconscious after a lunch-time brawl at the back of Oxford’s crown court building.

The street fight took place in the afternoon of October 26 at Luther Street.

Trevor Stewart, of no fixed abode, kicked his victim Paul Williams in the groin before slapping him to the face and then knocking him to the ground with a single punch to the head.

The 36-year old, who is homeless, pleaded guilty to the violent attack and one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm before he was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday.

At the hearing the court was shown CCTV footage of the attack, described as ‘nasty and unprovoked’, which saw his victim Mr Williams left lying unconscious on the ground.

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In mitigation at the hearing his defence barrister Guy Wyatt said that his client had a long-standing alcohol problem and was a veteran of the Armed Forces, having served in Afghanistan and Northern Ireland.

He said that Stewart was determined to beat his addiction and to re-connect with his wife and children with whom he is separated.

Sentencing, Judge Maria Lamb said: “You have got a shocking record for violence and this was a nasty, unprovoked attack by you.

“You kicked this man, who was a drinking companion, slapped him and punched him once and you can see [on the CCTV] him going to the ground.

“You left him alone after that and he ended up with a number of facial fractures. It was a thoroughly unpleasant incident.

“I am going to give you a chance, this is a last chance, if this does not work, if you breach the order I am going to impose on you, this is a direct alternative to something like 21 months in prison. If it doesn’t work you are going to be back in front of me and I will send you inside.”

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Stewart was handed a community order to include rehabilitation for 25 days and alcohol treatment.