A man who launched an unprovoked, drunken, attack on a Good Samaritan has been jailed for three years.

Dean Maundrell was with his mum's boyfriend Christopher Rimes when they left their victim with a fractured jaw after attacking him in the street near Walcot Library.

The 29-year-old landed the first blow on Ian Bryant, who had just used a cash machine, sending him to the ground before Rimes, 38, joined in the attack.

And as a result of the incident outside the Co-op off Queens Drive their victim had to undergo an operation to have a metal plate inserted in his face.

Tessa Hingston, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how Ian Bryant had seen a female alone in an Ashton Keynes car park.

After learning she was a crack cocaine addict he said he felt for her and decided to help her get home, so ordered a taxi to take them to Swindon.

When the vehicle pulled up outside the parade of shops on Sussex Place Mr Bryant went to use a cash machine by the shop.

The defendants, who the cabbie said were loitering in the area, then approached the victim at the side of his taxi and Maundrell punched him, sending him to the ground.

As he was getting to his feet Mr Bryant, who had been drinking, accepted slapping at one of the men but was then struck again by Rimes.

He punched and kicked him to the face and he went to the ground again, coming to with a shop working standing over him.

Much of the attack by Rimes was caught on the cabbie's dashcam and some of the initial punch, to the side of the car, could be seen in the shop window's reflection.

Miss Hingston said Mr Bryant was taken to the Great Western Hospital by ambulance and was then transferred to the John Radcliffe in Oxford to undergo surgery.

She said it was not clear which blow caused the break but as it was a case of joint enterprise they were both liable.

Maundrell and Rimes, of Brendon Walk, Penhill, both admitted grievous bodily harm.

Richard Williams, defending, said his client was on his way home when the incident happened and struggled to remember much about it.

He said he feared the other man may attack him so he got in first but realised now he was wrong.

Jailing him Judge Robert Pawson said "On May 1 last year you were involved in a joint assault on a member of the public called Ian Bryant who was acting as a Good Samaritan that night, trying to help someone else.

"It was in the evening, it was in public, you were drunk. Mr Bryant was punched. You delivered the first blow which knocked Mr Bryant off his feet.

"He managed to get up but was knocked back to the ground again, this time by your colleague Mr Rimes."

He issued a warrant without bail for the arrest of Rimes after he failed to attend court for the hearing.

ends 23/7/18