A MAN who attacked a fellow pub drinker and left him unconscious in a busy main road after delivering 28 punches has been jailed.

Leslie Cole unleashed the violent attack outside the Bright Water Inn in Shirley High Street, forcing traffic to stop as the victim was left lying on the ground.

Southampton Crown Court heard how the “nasty, gratuitous violence” was captured on CCTV footage from inside the pub and showed 34-year-old Cole edging towards victim William Honeywill, who was backing away on the pavement.

The video, shown to the court, saw Cole strike Mr Honeywill, 22, twice to the left side of his head before unleashing the flurry of blows.

Prosecutor Dawn Hyland told the city crown court: “There were so many punches thrown by the defendant it was almost impossible to count. In fact, it was 28.”

The assault, which happened in August, ended with the victim crashing to the ground unconscious. He suffered minor injuries. The court heard how as Cole was arrested he was seen throwing a small bag containing around £20 of cocaine away.

Cole, 34, of Green Park Road, Southampton, admitted causing actual bodily harm.

Jailing him for 15 months, Recorder Jonathan Swift said his list of previous convictions – which were not revealed in court – was appalling.

Mitigating, solicitor Jo Chester said there had been provocation in the pub but that this did not justify Cole’s actions.

“This has been a wake-up call for him. He loses his temper and inhibitions when he is drunk.”