A MAN who inflicted "life-changing" injuries on a Bradford father with a single punch as he walked home from a night out has been sentenced to four years in a young offender institution.

Jordan Docherty, 20, knocked 35-year-old Simon Hackett to the ground during the assault, causing him to suffer serious head injuries and brain damage.

He remains in hospital as a result of the attack, which took place in the early hours of September 20 last year, and Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC told Bradford Crown Court that he "may not survive."

Docherty, of Worthing Head Road, Wyke, had pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Hackett at an earlier hearing, with a more serious charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent dropped last month.

Prosecutor Stephanie Hancock told the court that Mr Hackett, a scaffolder, had gone out for the evening with his workmate Anthony Roberts, before they ended up at a private party at the Buttershaw Lane Working Men's Club.

At around midnight, an argument was said to have ensued outside the club between Mr Hackett and Docherty's young cousin.

Mr Roberts was said to have been worried about the atmosphere between Mr Hackett and Docherty, so left the club with his friend, turning right onto St Helena Road, Wibsey.

A witness reported seeing Docherty still angry, and despite being restrained by another man, he got away and ran around 60m up the street after Mr Hackett.

Despite Mr Roberts trying to shield the victim, Docherty barged past him and punched Mr Hackett to the face, causing him to fall back and hit his head on the ground.

He was taken by ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary with "catastrophic" injuries, including a fracture from the back of his head to his jawbone.

Docherty was arrested later the same day, and told police he had only "sporadic" memories of the incident as he had been drinking, claiming he had punched Mr Hackett to "defend his own family."

Mr Hackett was placed in a medically-induced coma for eight days and underwent two operations to remove large sections of his skull to relieve pressure on his brain.

Miss Hancock told the court that since the attack, Mr Hackett had suffered "dangerous fluctuations of pressures to his brain", and had a permanent stent in place to remove fluid, with titanium plates inserted where areas of his skull were removed.

Reading from a medical report outlining his most recent condition, Miss Hancock said: "He is minimally conscious and dependent on every aspect of care.

"These injuries are permanent. Mr Hackett is likely to remain bed-bound for the rest of his life."

In a statement read to the court, Mr Hackett's partner, Caroline Sykes, 45, said the impact on the family had been "devastating", affecting the "incredibly close bond" between Mr Hackett and his 11 year-old daughter.

Mark Brookes, for Docherty, said his client had asked him to apologise to Mr Hackett's family, admitting his actions had caused "life-changing consequences" for them.

Judge Durham Hall heard that Docherty had previous convictions for violence and public disorder and had been in breach of a community order at the time of the offence.

"This is a case of exceptional gravity," he said.

"Despite the attempts of others, you refused to be calmed.

"You were in a state where violence was likely, and the rest is history.

"The family are fearing the worst. At best, Mr Hackett's life circumstances will be quite shockingly awful, and he may not survive."

Speaking after the verdict, Ms Sykes said her partner had been entirely blameless in the attack, with no statements made suggesting he had said anything to provoke an assault.

"We just take everything with Simon day-by-day," she said.

"It is very difficult to move on."