A MAN has been locked up after a single punch on a city centre night out left his victim with serious injuries.

Brandon Morris, of Kingsway in Chester, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentence on Thursday morning.

The 21-year-old had previously admitted one offence of inflicting grievous bodily harm upon a man named Ryan Lancelotte.

Anna Price, prosecuting, told the court that in the early hours of December 10 last year, Mr Lancelotte was in Wrexham city centre, having been drinking with friends.

As they walked towards Atik nightclub in order to get a taxi, they became aware of a group arguing.

One of the victim's friends tried to calm things down, but the situation deteriorated when she and Mr Lancelotte's other companion became embroiled in the situation.

Ms Price said what followed could best be described as "a large scale disturbance in the street outside Atik."

Mr Lancelotte was in the middle of the road when Morris ran up to him and punched him once to the face.

He fell to the ground, hitting the back of his head on the concrete with nothing to break his fall.

In the immediate aftermath, he was totally unresponsive with his eyes wide open.

Kerry Spoor, a clinical nurse working at the nearby Hafan y Dref medical centre, saw the punch and ran to help.

In a statement, she said the scene was "crazy," with fights breaking out all around her and shouting as she tried to help the victim.

A doorman who also saw the strike described it as one of the most serious things he'd ever seen, and admitted he initially believed Mr Lancelotte was dead.

An ambulance was requested, but those at the scene were informed none were available.

As such, Ms Spoor used the victim's phone to call his parents - who rushed to the scene to take him to hospital themselves.

Mr Lancelotte was found to have a wound to the back of his head, with bleeding and bruising to the brain.

Brandon Morris (NWP)Brandon Morris (NWP) (Image: North Wales Police) He was conveyed to Royal Stoke Hospital to be seen by specialists, who discovered a blood clot on his brain.

After a stay of several days, during which he had to have part of his skull removed, Mr Lancelotte was discharged.

He was left with numerous subsequent health concerns, including: persistent buzzing in his ear, personality changes, mental health difficulties and memory problems, as well as pain in his head.

Prior to the attack he worked full time as an electrician and he enjoyed activities such as playing football, martial arts and racing motorbikes.

In his victim impact statement, read to the court by Ms Price, Mr Lancelotte said he lost his job due to being unable to work, had to put his motorbike up for sale to make money and was reliant on the go-ahead of doctors as to whether he could participate in sports.

Ryan Rothwell, defending, told the court: "It's right to highlight from the footage that the defendant isn't involved in any of the ongoing violence prior to the single punch assault.

"What may reduce his culpability is his youth and diagnoses of neurodiverse conditions.

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"He has a job and prospects and he's not someone for whom there is no hope.

"The defendant pretty swiftly regretted what happened and told the police he didn't mean to hit the complainant so hard."

Mr Rothwell said his client believed he'd seen Mr Lancelotte striking out at a female, which had prompted him to run over and punch him.

But he said Morris "clearly accepts retaliating above and beyond the realms of protecting the female."

Mr Rothwell added: "He is devastated at the harm he has caused to the complainant and takes full responsibility for the offence.

"I ask Your Honour to give him a chance and not to send him immediately into custody today."

Judge Timothy Petts told Morris: "You left Ryan Lancelotte with very serious injuries which are having a long-lasting effect on his life and health.

"You overreacted to what you thought had been happening.

"Every year, the courts have to deal with cases where exactly the same circumstances lead to a manslaughter charge."

The Judge also praised the swift actions of those who came to the victim's aid, adding: "Kerry Spoor and her colleagues at Hafan y Dref gave immediate assistance to Ryan and who knows what the outcome could have been without them, especially in a situation where no ambulance was available.

"I thank them on behalf of the public for their work."

Judge Petts Jailed Morris for 16 months for the offence.

He said: "This sentence has to be immediate - that's the only appropriate punishment.

"Nothing I do will turn back the clock and make Ryan better, and the sentence isn't intended to do that of course.

"But there needs to be a consistent signal about street violence."