A crown court Judge warned a thug who attacked a man he's lucky that his victim survived.

Grant Liggan, 30, of Rowenhall, Laindon, targeted the victim at Basildon’s Festival Leisure Park after a "fair amount to drink."

He appeared at Southend Crown Court today charged with wound or inflict grievous bodily harm without intent.

But despite the court hearing that the victim suffered a fractured jaw and was lucky to survive, Liggan was given a suspended sentence and curfew order.

Prosecuting, Philippa Page said: “On May 30 Liggan and friends were at the Festival Leisure Park at The Keys pub and later Unit 7 nightclub.

“He and the victim were unknown and after a fair amount of drinking he punched the victim who suffered a brain injury.

“He had a brain and ear bleed and a jaw bone fracture.

It was diagnosed as a traumatic brain injury and had two weeks off work.

“He suffered affects when it comes to going out and about and could not start a new job.”

She told the court that Liggan claimed it was in connection with a Black Lives Matter comment by the victim.

Mitigating, Natalie Berman told the court Liggan had not committed any violent crimes since 2009.

She said: “He complied well with bail conditions and a tag curfew too. It was a nasty incident and thankfully he did recover.

“He’s addressing behaviour, handed himself in and spoke to a doctor for medication.”

Sentencing Liggan, Judge Samantha Leigh warned him he is lucky that his victim survived.

She said: “This is so close to a one-punch manslaughter.

"You are incredibly lucky this man did not die and you are not facing prison for eight years.

“You swung at him and knocked him out after the groups of friends walked away and you were left with him.

“He suffered a brain bleed and fractured jaw. I can see you did comply with conditions before.”

She told him she had seen the CCTV which showed good and joking behaviour with no issue initially.

He avoided jail, with a oneyear sentence suspended for 18 months, a four-month curfew, 150 hours unpaid work and £500 compensation.

He was also ordered to complete 50 days of rehabilitation activity requirement.