A man who kicked an unconscious takeaway customer in the head after knocking him down was jailed for 27 months.

Christopher Hyatt, 29, went on to punch a teacher in the face when he tried to call the police.

Hyatt, of Ash Grove, Cottingley Bridge, Bingley, was branded a “thug” by witnesses to the violence, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

He admitted unlawfully wounding Andrew Steele in Amano’s, Bingley, on July 10 last year and intimidating Paul Hamilton and assaulting him.

Prosecutor Ian Howard said Hyatt first struck out at a punchball in the takeaway, hitting and headbutting it.

When Mr Steele made a comment about him, Hyatt punched him in the face, knocking him down.

After he got up, Hyatt returned to the takeaway and struck him again.

Mr Steele hit his head on the metal counter as he fell.

As he lay unconscious and bleeding, Hyatt kicked his head once “like a football”, the court heard.

The assault, at about midnight, was witnessed by a group of five teachers waiting in the takeaway.

When one of them, Paul Hamilton, tried to dial 999 for help, Hyatt aggressively attempted to stop him.

He punched him in the face, cutting his lip. Mr Steele suffered a head wound, needing eight staples, and a cut ear.

Stephen Wood, Hyatt’s barrister, said he could not remember anything about that night. He had moved from the area, found work and did his best not to drink.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said: “This was an ordeal, frightening and shocking in the extreme for all concerned.”

He said the public would not forgive him if he did not lock him up.