A pub thug celebrated after leaving an innocent man with a fractured skull on Valentine's Day.
Ryan Milne, 27, had been among a group ejected from a bar when he turned on a man for no apparent reason.
Newcastle Crown Court heard he punched him three times, the final blow rendering him unconscious and seriously injured.
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Milne, of Whitworth Road, Walker, Newcastle, whose previous convictions including one for GBH with intent in 2014 after another attack outside a bar, admitted inflicting GBH and has been jailed for two years.
The court heard the attacker and victim were out with mutual friends at The Old Post Office pub, on Shields Road, Byker, on February 14 2020.
Staff had broken up a fight and the group of friends were told to leave and once outside, Milne turned on the victim.
The second punch he threw knocked him to the ground and when he got up, he was hit again and this time was knocked out.
The victim was taken to hospital and found to have a "severe depressed skull fracture", bruising and bleeding to the brain and he had to be put on a ventilator and taken to intensive care for a time.
In a victim impact statement six months after the assault, he said it had "turned my life upside down" and that he was "really struggling to get my life back to where it was".
He went from being fit, working and having an active social life to having to stop working for a while, having to move in with his mother for four months and becoming financially dependant on his family.
The court heard he had problems sleeping and had mood swings and temper issues.
Judge Edward Bindloss said the attack was unprovoked and added: "You punched him twice, he got up and you went back and punched him a third time and that knocked him unconscious.
"You were seen celebrating."
Milne was sent to a young offenders institution for two years in 2014 for the GBH with intent offence and also has a conviction for having a bladed article on his record from 2011.
Sue Hirst, defending, said: "He understands the seriousness of what he did that night and doesn't offer any excuse for what he has done.
"It seems there was other trouble taking place in the pub that was not caused by Mr MIlne.
"He knows his behaviour was wholly unacceptable and he is genuinely remorseful for the injury he caused."
Miss Hirst added that Milne's relationship had ended in the days leading up to the attack and he was "devastated about the impact this would have on his young daughter" and had nowhere to live.
She said: "He was in something of personal turmoil and he made the mistake of going out that evening and had too much to drink and committed this offence."
Miss Hirst said the victim has fully recovered and is back at work.
