A GIFTED student lost his accountancy career and his freedom because he kicked another man in the head in late-night city centre violence.

Brian Koroma “saw red” and behaved as if he was kicking a football in the scrimmage on Parliament Street on May 17, York Crown Court heard.

He appeared in the dock on Thursday, on his 22nd birthday, two weeks before he was due to start a scholarship with a leading international accountancy firm.

The Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Batty QC, told him: “You could have killed and you are fortunate you are not facing a murder charge, it is as serious as that.

"Mindless drunken violence of this level, in my judgement, can only be met with an immediate custodial sentence, whatever the mitigating circumstances.”

Koroma, of Lodge Farm Gardens, Haxby Road, York, was jailed for 16 months. He pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm to an Askham Bryan College student and jumping bail.

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His barrister Andrew Stranex said he had not attended court when he should have, on August 25, because he had panicked.

“This is an exceptional person at an exceptional point in his life,” he said.

Peter Byrne, prosecuting, said the victim was walking with friends towards McDonalds from Kuda nightclub at 3.30am when they were followed by Koroma and his friends. The groups interacted and the victim was hit from behind and put to the ground.

As he lay there, Koroma kicked him in the head. He suffered concussion and was taken to hospital, discharged, readmitted and discharged again. A few days later, fluid started running from his ear-drum and he was readmitted, but scans revealed no abnormalities.

Koroma told police in interview that he put the victim to the ground, but CCTV showed he had not, said Mr Byrne.

Mr Stranex said the accountancy firm had given Koroma a scholarship to study for a masters degree while working for them, but he would lose that if he was jailed.

The graduate had done charity work organising a football programme for refugees at Calais and had helped build a hospital as a volunteer in Sierra Leone.