A tree surgeon has been ordered to pay a man whose teeth he knocked out in Worcester city centre a massive £3,500 in compensation.

Drunken James Davies launched an attack on James Williams after he left a nightclub.

He reacted after seeing his friend Ryan Harford – the “catalyst” for the violence – bundled to the ground by a colleague of the victim.

Judge Patrick Thomas QC said the blow in the face was “vicious and brutal” and could have killed Mr Williams.

The punch dislodged two front teeth, but after paying £632 for temporary dental treatment, Mr Williams could not afford the extensive work needed for a permanent solution.

The judge ordered father-of-two Davies to pay the victim compensation at £250 a month.

Davies, aged 29, of Foxwell Street, Worcester, was also given 12 months’ jail, suspended for 18 months, and told to carry out 120 hours’ community work. He admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.

Harford, 28, of Christchurch Road, Tolladine, Worcester, was jailed for nine months. He pleaded guilty to affray.

The incident on April 14 near Tramps nightclub was caught on CCTV, said Nick Berry, prosecuting.

The film, played at Worcester Crown Court, shows Harford being restrained then breaking free and being aggressive to a man in a group.

He is wrestled to the ground before Davies lands the punch “beyond self-defence” which knocked Mr Williams unconscious, said Mr Berry.

Harford is seen trying to fight two other men before police and club doormen break up the melee. In a victim impact statement, Mr Williams said he no longer goes into Worcester at night in case he is attacked again.

The judge said: “In the streets of every city, but particularly in Worcester, there seems to be a cult- ure of people who drink so much they get into trouble.”

Davies had 27 crimes on his record, including wounding, assault, battery and burglary.

Mr Berry said in 1999 he attacked a deaf victim in Tramps.

A man who came to his aid suffered six wounds requiring 34 stitches.

Harford had 42 previous convictions.

They included wounding, affray and possession of a weapon.

A suspended sentence for assaults on police was activated as part of his penalty.

Michael Aspinall, for Davies, said he had avoided trouble for four years but reacted while in drink when he saw Harford lying on the ground.

Martin Butterworth, for Harford – also a father-of-two – said he had “no clue” how he ended up with no jeans, locked up in a police cell.