A MAN has been jailed for nearly three years after punching a drug-driver convicted of killing his best friend.

Tyler Vernon, 29, appeared before Bournemouth Crown Court for sentencing on Friday, January 6 having previously pleaded guilty to one charge of assault causing grievous bodily harm without intent.

The court heard Vernon, whose address was given as Walter Close in Swindon, punched Paul Middleton in the face at the prison kitchen of HMP Portland after discovering he was the driver responsible for the death of Luke Chapman - Vernon’s lifelong best friend - in a crash on Penhill Drive in Swindon.

Vernon and Mr Middleton were both inmates working in the kitchen at HMP Portland YOI on August 26, 2020, when Vernon launched an assault that left Mr Middleton hospitalised.

Christopher Wing, prosecuting, said Vernon had rang his girlfriend at 1.37pm on the day of the assault and said: “Guess who I'm working with? The man who killed (Mr Chapman). I’m going to crush him, I’m going to go back there now. I’m going to do him. I’m in a room with no cameras, I’m only punching him up.”

At 2.15pm, Vernon approached Mr Middleton and struck him across the right side of the face repeatedly.

The court was told Mr Middleton was hospitalised for three days, required surgery, and was on a liquid diet for seven weeks. He has been left with metal plates in his jaw and was said to “still be fearful of groups”.

Olivia McGonigle, mitigating, told the court that Vernon had made steps to “turn his life around” since being released from prison in January 2021 and had ambitions to become a youthworker.

It was accepted that the incident was an “emotionally charged” response to learning he was in the same environment as the man convicted of killing "his lifelong bestfriend: someone he did everything with".

Middleton was three times the drug-drive threshold when he was behind the wheel of a Peugeot 208 when he fatally collided with Mr Chapman on June 18, 2018.

He was jailed for two years and two months after being found guilty of death by careless driving.

The court was told Vernon “accepted full responsibility” for the assault, was living with his dad and had a seven year old son.

Recorder Richard Mawhinney, the presiding judge, said: “I accept that this was emotionally charged but that is no excuse. This is a serious crime, in a prison, and I have to take that into account. 

"But for your guilty plea the proper sentence would have been 35 months - you did plead guilty and are entitled to a ten per cent reduction which makes the sentence 31 months.

"I have to say even if I was able to suspend the term, I would not have been inclined to do so.”

The judge told Vernon he hoped, upon his release, that he would be able to “rebuild” his life and spend time with his son.

Vernon was sentenced to 31 months in prison, to be released on licence halfway, and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £190.