A thug who launched a “savage attack” on a Good Samaritan is today starting a four-year jail term.

Louis King hit Bournemouth University student George Griffiths so hard that he needed a series of operations to repair a broken jaw and cheekbone.

Bournemouth Crown Court was told Mr Griffiths attempted to intervene in a scuffle between King and his girlfriend near Horseshoe Common in Bournemouth at around 3.30am on November 16 last year.

King, a former cocaine addict who attends anger management classes, punched Mr Griffiths to the ground and landed another blow as he lay on the pavement.

Sentencing him, Judge Peter Johnson said: “Mr Griffiths was behaving in a commendable fashion. You launched a savage attack.

“The injuries sustained were a fractured jaw and fractured cheekbone. That has led to a number of operations and Mr Griffiths is still feeling the effects of it.”

Defending King, Jacqueline Vallejo said the 28-year-old, of Stewart Road, Charminster, moved to Bournemouth from London to successfully tackle his cocaine habit.

She described the incident as “a one-off incident” and added: “He is so sorry to the complainant and to his family. He made the wrong decision, influenced by a little bit of alcohol.

“He is accepting full blame for this incident – it has had an immense effect on his life.”

King, a painter and decorator, wept as the judge handed down the sentence. He was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent following a trial in May when jurors saw CCTV footage of the incident.

The court heard he has a previous conviction for battery in 2010.