A MAN swung a ‘full-blooded punch’ before dragging his unconscious victim across the floor by his legs, a court heard.

Simon Anthony Jeff left a trail of blood as he pulled the injured man across the ground outside The Three Compasses pub in Dorchester.

His victim suffered a bleed to the brain, fractured ribs and cuts to his face and lips.

The 47-year-old, who described himself as "ten out of ten drunk", told other punters that his victim 'must have tripped'.

He later admitted he ‘might have pushed him’.

The defendant, of Poundbury Crescent in Dorchester, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on Tuesday, September 26, having previously pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm.

The court heard how the victim had gone outside The Three Compasses for a cigarette and was standing on the steps to the pub entrance when he was joined by Jeff.

There was “some sort of exchange” between the pair before Jeff punched the man in the face causing him to fall down the stairs.

Prosecuting, Oliver Hirsch presented CCTV footage of the incident to the court.

He said: “[The victim] appears to be unconscious, and Mr Jeff then appears to have got him by the legs and drags him along the ground. There is a trail of blood being left.

“There is a suggestion that Mr Jeff had dragged him to the centre of the image to make out he had fallen down the stairs.”

Some minutes pass before other punters attend to the victim who is said to have had “blood coming out of his mouth”.

He was rushed to hospital where he spent five days recovering.

The victim could not drive for eight months following the attack last September 6, the court heard.

Defending, Ellie Fargin said her client had been “very drunk” at the time of the incident and has little memory of what happened but said he did put the victim in the recovery position.

Ms Fargin added that Jeff was “very remorseful”. She told the court: “He is disgusted and devastated at what happened.”

It was also noted that the defendant had made efforts to get on top of his drinking.

While accepting that Jeff has multiple past convictions, Ms Fargin argued that 2014 was the last time he was convicted for violence.

Judge Jonathan Fuller KC said: “You were in the pub and you had far too much to drink.

“You went outside and there seemed to be some sort of exchange and whatever was said caused you to swing a full-blooded punch.

“One disturbing part of the case is that witnesses heard you saying the man may have tripped.

“I hope that for you and your family that this is the last of the violence.”

Jeff was jailed for two years and handed a five-year restraining order.

He was ordered to pay £3,000 in victim compensation.