AN alcoholic who left another man with a broken jaw and bleeding to the brain has been jailed for six years.

Thomas Chapman, 36, had denied causing grievous bodily harm to Keelan Williams after an altercation in Head Street, Halstead, in October 2015.

However a jury found him guilty after deliberating for three and a half hours at Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday.

Chapman, of Head Street, was also found guilty of assault by beating for an attack on a second man, Cameron Wheeler.

Mr Williams and Mr Wheeler went to an address in Head Street to collect a set of keys from Chapman as his then partner had locked herself out, the court heard.

However an fight broke out between the men and Mr Williams was punched and kicked or stamped on.

The court heard Mr Williams was found lying in the road by a taxi driver while a man identified as “aggressive” continued to fight with another man in the street.

Passengers of the taxi tried to break up the two men fighting and the taxi driver called the emergency services.

Mr Williams had suffered bleeding a bruising to the brain, a complex fracture of the upper jaw and was left with no feeling below his left eye.

Chapman has several previous convictions including for grievous bodily harm when he was 16.

Passing sentence, Judge John Deveaux, said: “You are said to have an alcohol dependency however you said you had only had two cans of alcohol on the night.

“It is accepted alcohol did not contribute to the centre of this case.

“The jury has clearly rejected your claims of self defence.

“There is no justification for the seriousness of the attack, you were just upset over the perceived conduct of your then partner.”

Shauna Ritchie, defending, said Chapman had been diagnosed with alcohol dependency and depression.

She said: “In the last few years he has made a number of attempts to tackle his substance misuse and in particular alcohol misuse.

“He has a combination of genuine remorse for what he has done, what he has put his new partner through and pessimism about maintaining his determination to move forward.

“There are considerable mitigating factors. He has shown a determination to address his addiction.

“I encourage you when imposing a custodial sentence to be as lenient as possible.

“I ask that in the hope it will be one that gives him hope of returning to his recovery rather than hopelessness.”

He was sentenced to six years in prison for grievous bodily harm with intent and three months for assault by beating. The sentences will run at the same time.