A MAN who kicked a former friend in the head, leaving him with life-threat ening injuries, has been jailed for nine years.
Owain Philip Davies, 24, who admitted having martial arts training, kicked Nicholas Watkins to the head with his steel toe-capped boot in a drunken attack.
The kick left an imprint of his boot on Mr Watkins's head which was shown in photographs to the jury.
Mr Watkins was unable to give evidence at the trial which was held at Swansea Crown Court.
After the attack he was initially taken to hospital and discharged.
When he returned the following day complaining of headaches, doctors saw his condition rapidly deteriorate and they rushed him to Cardiff with a police escort for specialist care.
He remained in hospital until February and required surgery on his brain, during which part of his skull was removed.
As part of the prosecution case, barrister Stephen Rees said it was not yet clear if Mr Watkins would make a full recovery.
Davies had already pleaded guilty to causing Mr Watkins grievous bodily harm, but denied his actions were committed with intent.
Mr Rees said Davies had known the seriousness of the injury he could inflict.
Mitigating, Huw Rees said: "This was a chance meeting with a considerable background between the parties and this was a single kick unaccompanied by any other form of violence apart from the first tackle."
He said Davies would now lose his job and home, and his girlfriend, who is expecting the couple's child, would have to go through her pregnancy alone.
Mr Huw Rees said Davies was "ashamed" and "disgusted" by his actions.
Recorder David Aubrey said: "Offences of this kind involving drunken violence in the street are all too prevalent.
"Members of the public are becoming part of the events like this and the tragic circumstances that follow from them.
"This attack was chilling and the revulsion felt by the jury was clear to see as they watched the CCTV," he said.