A THUG marched up to a complete stranger in Carlisle city centre and knocked him unconscious, leaving him with a facial injury so serious he now needs £12,000 worth of dental surgery.

At the city's Rickergate Magistrates' Court, Brady Rowland Wilson, 28, failed to turn up for his trial, having earlier denied assaulting Colin Percival, causing him actual bodily harm, in the early hours of Sunday, December 3. After hearing the evidence, it took District Judge Gerald Chalk less than ten seconds to find Wilson guilty.

The trial heard testimony from David Jupp, a friend of the victim who witnessed the attack.

He outlined how he and Mr Percival had been to Newcastle Races that day, and after arriving back in Carlisle they headed into the city centre for an extra couple of drinks.

It was a cold night, and they were in hats and scarves as they walked past the House of Fraser store, he said. Noticing there was a man walking towards them in a "determined manner", heading right towards them, he and Mr Percival separated so the stranger could walk between them.

"Then he just laid one hell of a punch on Colin," said Mr Jupp.

The attack happened immediately outside the Clydesdale Bank in English Street.

Mr Jupp continued: "There was nothing said - just 'Have some of that.' That was all. When I looked at him [the attacker], he said: 'Do you want some?' I'd never seen him before in my life."

Mr Jupp said his friend was knocked out, so he put him in the recovery position and tried to get some help, appealing to a nearby bouncer from a club. The attacker, who was wearing a distinctive red puffa jacket, ran off when a couple of door supervisors arrived on the scene to investigate.

The court heard that Mr Jupp was later able to pick out Wilson from a photo id procedure. In his statement, Mr Percival told how he had heard his attackers comment and then woke up on the ground, with blood pouring from his top lip. He spent the night in hospital and was left suffering headaches.

A dentist had confirmed in a statement that extensive work would be needed on Mr Percival's damaged mouth and jaw, which suffered various hairline fractures.

If carried out, this work will cost £12,344.

The trial also heard from two police officers who were quickly on the scene and investigated the attack.

PC Chris Blakey said he had seen the defendant outside the Border Rambler pub in Botchergate earlier that night, when he was wearing the distinctive red jacket. The officer commented on Wilson's unusual manner of walking, with his arms held out from his body, as if he was carrying a carpet.

A jacket matching that description of the one worn by Wilson was later found at his Cresswell Avenue home in Harraby Carlisle.

When questioned about this, Wilson claimed he bought it from a friend Sunday morning. He gave the man's name but officers have been unable to trace him. Wilson denied attacking Mr Percival.

After declaring the defendant guilty, prosecutor Pamela Fee told District Judge Gerald Chalk was told that the defendant has a "significant" criminal record.

The judge issued a warrant for the defendant's immediate arrest.