A YOUNG man’s life was “devastated” after he was partially blinded during a night out to celebrate his 20th birthday.

Bournemouth Crown Court was told how Jason Knight had been with friends in the early hours of December 2 last year when alcohol-fuelled violence flared at Walkabout in Old Christchurch Road.

Labourer Marc Jackson, 26, from Fleets Lane, Poole, admitting inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Prosecutor Jennie Rickman said Jackson had punched Mr Knight on the left eye as he turned to walk away from the busy bar.

She said: “He fell to the floor and felt blood coming from his eye.

“He was in a lot of pain and dazed; the next thing he can remember is waking up in hospital.”

Mrs Rickman told the court how Mr Knight had undergone surgery in July 2010 to have a cornea graft to his left eye, adding: “As a result of the force of Mr Jackson’s single punch the graft was missing and the lens of the eye and iris were also knocked out.”

Mr Knight underwent a second operation on December 2 to have his left eye repaired and a replacement cornea secured with 16 stitches.

Mrs Rickman added: “By March he could see with a third of his vision.

“He is far from well and the stitches will have to stay for a year.

“He has been able to return to work after his employer found him light duties but he has to be taken there by colleagues.”

The court heard how, after the attack, Jackson had approached a police officer and said: “I’m the one who hit that guy.”

Defending, Robert Griffiths said Jackson had entered an early guilty plea adding: “He didn’t intend to cause such a serious injury with a single punch and would like to apologise to Mr Knight.

“His behaviour was out of character; alcohol features quite strongly in his life and offending.”

Jailing Jackson for 16 months, Judge Samuel Wiggs told him: “On this occasion you didn’t intend to devastate the life of Jason Knight but, effectively, that is what you have done.”