A MASKED man in a skeleton suit who shattered a man's eye socket on a nightclub dancefloor has been jailed.

Samuel Newton, from Amesbury, was sentenced to 18 months in prison at Winchester Crown Court today (Friday, December 2) for one charge of causing grievous bodily harm (GBH).

The 29-year-old had previously denied the charge, claiming that the attack in The Chapel in March last year had been in self defence.

But a jury unanimously convicted him of wounding/inflicting GBH without intent after a four-day trial on November 3.

The court had previously heard the father-of-two was wearing a glow-in-the-dark skeleton suit at the time of the attack.

His victim, Ben Combes, suffered a broken eye socket, requiring a titanium plate to repair.

In a statement read to the court Mr Combes said he had "not yet become used to the reflection in the mirror" after being left scarred from the attack.

He added: "I cannot accept that anything I did that night can justify what this man did to me."

The judge, Recorder William Ashworth, said: "There was clear evidence that on the dancefloor you had been drinking alcohol and I do not accept your account that you were not affected by it.

"For some reason, which I do not know, you were in an aggressive mood.

"It was clear that Mr Combes was very drunk indeed, I have no doubt about that, and that he had put his arm on your shoulder and on the mask of the full body suit that you were wearing.

"Your reaction was immediate and it was to turn on him aggressively.

"You were kneeling over Mr Combes and you began punching him as he was trying to get up.

"You then got to your feet and as he was laying on the ground you repeatedly kicked him - it was one of these kicks that shattered his eye socket.

"There was an element of provocation, but you quickly lost control of yourself and you were proceeding to kick someone who was obviously helpless on the ground."

The court had previously heard a string of witnesses, who had drunk varying amounts of alcohol, say they had seen Newton knock or throw the victim to the ground before punching, kicking or stamping on him.

Mr Combes, who said he had not been “overly drunk” despite having consumed at least seven beers and five “Jagerbomb” shots, had no memory of the incident, having hit his head on the dancefloor.

There had been a brief confrontation between Newton and another clubber, Hayden Tryhorn, shortly before the alleged attack.

Mr Tryhorn said he had later seen Newton pick Mr Combes up and “chuck him to the floor” before punching him in the face.

Witnesses for the prosecution said it appeared that Newton had then deliberately stamped on Mr Combes's head and face, as well as kicking him, which Newton disputed.

Newton had been with a group of family and friends, all in fancy dress, celebrating a 30th birthday.