A SWANSEA man was under the influence of alcohol and cocaine when he carried out a vicious, unprovoked attack that left his victim with a serious brain injury.

Rhys Higgins, the son of a former policeman, felled "gentle giant" Lee Morse with a single punch after mistaking him for someone else, a judge was told.

Higgins then walked away, leaving Mr Morse lying unconscious on a road in Pontarddulais bleeding profusely.

But passers-by raised the alarm and Mr Morse was rushed to hospital where surgeons discovered a brain injury that was potentially life-threatening.

The early-hours assault last September was described yesterday when Higgins — the son of a retired police inspector — appeared at Swansea Crown Court.

The 19-year-old, of Heol y Waun, Pontlliw, was sent to a young offenders' institution for two years after pleading guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Patrick Griffiths, prosecuting, said it was significant that witnesses had described 27-year- old mechanic Mr Morse in glowing terms as a "friendly gentle giant" and a "lovely, friendly person — not a fighter".

The court heard that on the evening of September 4 Mr Morse went to the King Hotel in Pontarddulais after going to watch a football match at the Liberty Stadium.

"His next recollection is being in hospital in Cardiff," said Mr Griffiths.

"He has no recollection of being assaulted by this defendant.

"He did not know the defendant and had never had any dealings with him."

The unprovoked attack happened as Mr Morse walked along St Teilo Street, minding his own business and chatting to his girlfriend on his mobile.

Higgins had taken cocaine on the evening in question and had been drinking at the Farmers Arms.

A disturbance erupted outside that pub when two men, John Howells and Craig Owens, got into a fight after a row over a woman, said Mr Griffiths.

Higgins, who knew them, intervened to try to break up the fight — but as he did so he was punched in the face by someone and his nose began to bleed.

Higgins was incensed at having been hit and, when he saw Mr Morse walking along the street, mistakenly thought he had been involved in the incident.

Immediately he lashed out at Mr Morse, knocking him down with a single punch and leaving him lying on the road unconscious and bleeding profusely.

The court heard that Mr Morse was "extremely vulnerable to passing traffic" until he was spotted by passers-by who went to his aid and rang 999.

The punch that floored Mr Morse caused the back of his head to strike the ground — and the impact resulted in bleeding into his brain.

It was an extremely serious injury — potentially life-threatening — and he was in hospital for the best part of a month.

Mr Griffiths told the judge that, according to a victim-impact statement, Mr Morse had lost dexterity in his fingers as a result of the brain injury and this had affected his ability to work as a mechanic and to enjoy his hobby of playing the guitar.

He also had sleeping difficulties and felt nervous and apprehensive when away from his home.

Mr Griffiths told the court that, when arrested shortly after the incident, Higgins told detectives he was "really ashamed" of what he had done.

He had taken cocaine and was drunk — and when he was punched on the nose he lashed out in temper in the mistaken belief that Mr Morse had been responsible.

Higgins said he later felt "gutted" — especially when he found out that Mr Morse was such a "tidy bloke".

In mitigation, Catherine Richards emphasised that Higgins had not gone out looking for trouble that evening.

"He got caught up in something and he knows he should not have punched Mr Morse," she said.

"But this was an impulsive lashing out with one punch — as opposed to a sustained assault."

Miss Richards urged the court to consider suspending custody, but Judge Peter Heywood rejected this.

It was true that Higgins had pleaded guilty and been frank in police interviews, said the judge.

But Mr Morse had sustained particularly grave injuries — and the defendant's consumption of alcohol and cocaine was "no doubt a factor" in what had happened that night.

He added that if Higgins had contested the case and been found guilty by a jury, the sentence would have been three years.

Coming soon:

'I live in fear after street attack.'