A JUDGE has condemned the violent binge-drinking culture in Canterbury. His comments came as he jailed a thug for an alcohol-fuelled assault on a man as he walked through the city with his girlfriend.

Jailing Lee Hollington for two years for grievous bodily harm, Judge Timothy Nash said: "I have to pass a sentence which punishes you and which protects the people of Canterbury.

"They must be allowed to come and go without the likes of you and your colleagues indulging in unwarranted drunken violence caused by excessive alcohol and its corresponding lack of judgement."

Trainee bricklayer Hollington, 22, of Manciple Close, Canterbury, appeared at the city's crown court for sentence having earlier admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm and common assault in May.

Hollington's victim and his girlfriend were walking through Canterbury when they saw Hollington and another man having some kind of altercation near the County Hotel.

Some liquid went over the girl and her boyfriend remonstrated with the two men who then launched an unprovoked attack on him. During the fracas she was pushed out of the way.

Hollington's victim was repeatedly kicked and beaten resulting in him losing a tooth, suffering black eyes, head injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Jailing Hollington, Judge Nash told him: "Your conduct on that night was disgraceful and you know it. At least one can see some remorse which I acccept is genuine which, together with your plea and your age means the sentence you get will be less than it would otherwise be."