A THUG who put a father in intensive care and severely injured his brain with a single punch in a York street has been jailed for a year.

Sean Anthony Brough, 27, crossed Micklegate and knocked Anthony Jordan to the ground after Mr Jordan reacted to Brough’s girlfriend falling over late on September 18, York Crown Court heard.

Tamara Pawson, prosecuting, said the victim hit his head as he fell, and he was in intensive care for 24 hours with internal head injuries.

He spent nine days in York Hospital and now has difficulties coping with normal life.

The Recorder of York, Judge Stephen Ashurst, said the single punch had had a “devastating” impact on the Jordan family, including his children.

The judge said: “Mrs Jordan no longer has the same husband. His personality has changed and the whole family has been dramatically affected in terms of loss of income.

“I very much hope with professional help his recovery will continue in the months and years ahead,” the judge said.

Brough, of Constantine Avenue in Tang Hall, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm.

It was the second time he had been in trouble for hitting a man in the street, having been convicted in September 2003 by Bridlington magistrates of causing actual bodily harm.

He had previous convictions for drink-related crimes and public order offences.

Miss Pawson said Mr Jordan had spent the day at the York beer festival at Knavesmire and then at The Punch Bowl in Blossom Street and was walking down Micklegate with a friend when they saw Brough’s girlfriend fall over.

Mr Jordan “made a noise” about the fall, the court heard. Brough later told police he had had eight pints to drink.

For Brough, Ian Durston said it was an unpremeditated attack and Brough accepted Mr Jordan had not provoked him.

He now “bitterly regretted” his impulsive and rash behaviour. He was a hard worker and a family man, and his family were standing by him.