A THUG must pay £10,000 to a father whose jaw he broke in a vicious unprovoked attack.

Andrew Santry punched his victim outside French Martini in Western Road, Billericay as he was holding a door open.

The victim had gone outside for a cigarette and was talking to people in the smoking area.

The victim, nor anyone he was talking to, knew Santry before the incident.

Despite this, the 27-year-old believed the man deserved to be attacked, so hit him once from the side, which connected with his head and knocked him out cold.

Santry, of Stock Road, Billericay, watched his victim fall to the floor then walked away.

He was later arrested and interviewed by the police where he first said that it had been “kicking off” outside the bar.

However, when police showed him CCTV footage of his attack, which took place on October 26 last year, he said his behaviour was “disgusting”.

Santry was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court yesterday after previously admitting causing grievous bodily harm without intent.

READ MORE: Basildon thug avoids jail despite hitting partner in front of her 11 year old son

The court heard that Santry’s victim had his jaw broken in two places, requiring metal plates to be inserted and his jaw wired shut.

This meant he was unable to have planned surgery on his knee, because his jaw could not be opened long enough to be put under anaesthetic.

He was also left without work due to his injuries, resulting in his partner and child going through severe financial difficulties.

Mitigation for Santry said he was “disgusted” with his actions and that it was completely out of character.

Sentencing, Judge Samantha Cohen said: “For reasons that are inexplicable to anyone who knows you, your behaviour in October last year was like a drunken thug.

“These courts frequently come across cases like this when they are charged with manslaughter, because they do not suffer a broken jaw - which is bad enough - but they die.

“You, and your victim, are extremely fortunate that it did not happen like this.

“His family have been left financially devastated by this.”

Judge Cohen gave Santry a 16 month suspended prison sentence and ordered him to pay £10,000 to his victim within six months.