A DRUNKEN yob has been jailed for three years for leaving an innocent man with permanent eye damage in a vicious street attack.

Violent Mark Maguire carried out the assault outside Burger King in Fareham precinct just ten days after he was let out of prison for a similar offence.

With a single punch the 21-year-old fractured the victim's cheekbone, causing his already poor eyesight to deteriorate.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard how the young man, who had been wearing glasses at the time of the attack, now suffered from double vision.

Maguire pleaded guilty to one charge of grievous bodily harm.

David Jenkins, mitigating, blamed Maguire's upbringing for his brutal behaviour.

"He has had a difficult life and upbringing, which led to him drinking on the streets.

"He drinks so much he gets himself into this sort of trouble."

The court heard how on the day of the assault Maguire - who has a four-month-old daughter - had been drinking all day.

Casually dressed, he stood motionless in the dock as Recorder Christopher Mather jailed him for three years.

"This type of behaviour against innocent members of the public is entirely unacceptable," he said.

An extra 70 days was added to the sentence as Maguire, of Twyford Avenue, Portsmouth, carried out the assault while on licence.

He has a string of previous convictions for actual bodily harm, assaulting police officers and robbery.

After the case, Inspector Simon Wrigglesworth of Fareham Police said the sentence sent out a clear message that street violence would not be tolerated.

"The sentence reflects the seriousness of the case, where there was gross misconduct and behaviour.

"The message needs to be clear that this is unacceptable. People should be able to be surrounded by civilised behaviour in Fareham town centre."