A VIOLENT thug has been jailed for an attack which left a woman out cold on the street.

There were audible gasps from the sentencing judge when CCTV footage, which she described as “horrific”, showing the one-punch strike to the woman’s face was shown to the court.

Sam Clayton, 23, of Surbiton Road, Southend, was on a night out with his sister who became involved in a scuffle outside Dick de Vignes nightclub in Warrior Square, Southend, on July 15 last year.

The victim had tried to calm the situation down when Clayton stepped in and punched her full force in the face, causing her to fall back and hit her head on the kerb.

Prosecutor Loreen Hussain said: “It was a nasty assault which took place when the victim was out with her sister.

“The defendant was also out with his sister who was very drunk and unstable on her feet. She was being difficult.

“The victim was trying to act as a peace-keeper and trying to calm her down. The defendant’s sister began grappling with the victim.

“The defendant then pushed his sister away and punched the victim in the face so strongly that she fell back and was left unconscious.”

Basildon Crown Court was shown the CCTV footage of the attack several times which showed Clayton try to run off after the assault before he was detained by the nightclub’s door staff.

He was later arrested by police officers and charged with actual bodily harm.

Sentencing Judge Samantha Leigh said: “How on earth she didn’t die is beyond me bearing in mind she hits her head on the kerb.”

The victim, who has no recollection of the attack, suffered cuts to her nose and the back of her head and witnesses described her as going in and out of consciousness.

She has been left with a permanent scar on her nose.

Sentencing Clayton, who has a two-year-old child, Judge Leigh said: “This is one of the most shocking things I have seen in my time in the criminal justice system and I’ve seen some awful things.

“She does not put her hands out to stop herself. It is quite clear she is unconscious.

“How on earth she did not crack her skull, I don’t know. This could have been a one-punch manslaughter case quite easily.”

The court heard Clayton had a history of violence, including a conviction for assault in 2014 after he kicked and punched a man who was on the ground outside Talk nightclub.

Judge Leigh added: “Despite everything I’ve read from your family who talk of someone who isn’t violent, I find that hard to accept. You are someone who does act violently in situations where you don’t feel in control.”

Clayton, who admitted the offence, was sentenced to three years in prison and must pay a victim surcharge.