A JUDGE spoke of a waste of a life when he jailed a Southampton man for five months for an unprovoked attack on a fellow alcoholic.

David Peat, who had been drinking cider, was sitting on a wall outside his home chatting to friends when Anthony Dowling approached.

Grabbing his collar and screaming abuse at him, Dowling, 28, pulled the victim onto the grass below where he repeatedly punched and kicked him. The city crown court heard Dowling had been drinking all day, having consumed almost a crate of lager and a quarter of a bottle of gin, and he drank because he was bored.

Judge John Dixon commented to defence counsel Sarah Jones: "He's a relatively young man and he can't find enough to do to occupy himself. I don't know if that is a damning indictment on himself or society or both. It's a waste of a life.

"You must take responsibility for what you do. One day, in drink, you may do something that you will regret for the rest of your life. At least in prison you will get a chance to dry out and get a grip on your demons.'' Dowling, of Wallace Road, Southampton, admitted causing actual bodily harm.

In mitigation, Ms Jones said the assault was neither premeditated nor sustained.