A MAN who carried out a violent and unprovoked attack on a person he had only just met has been jailed for more than three years.

Charlie Kearns was jailed for three years and two months after he was found guilty of GBH with intent following a two-day trial at Chelmsford Crown Court which began on Wednesday 5 November.

The 28-year-old of Lavender Drive, Southminster, was jailed for an unprovoked attack last year that left his victim with a facial fractures and broken ribs alongside other injuries which needed extensive treatment.

Just before midnight on Thursday 15 August last year, our control room received multiple 999 calls from the public reporting they could hear an ongoing disturbance in Dorset Road, Burnham-on-Crouch.

Witnesses described an man being violently attacked by a much younger man as he lay on the ground

The men had begun talking after the victim saw Kearns sitting on the kerb. They had spent less than an hour together chatting.

Without warning, Kearns became irate and punched the victim, aged in his 50s, twice to the head, causing him to drop to the ground on all fours.

Kearns proceeded to launch a violent attack of punches and kicks to the older man's head and body, before grabbing his head and smashing it repeatedly into the ground, rendering him unconscious.

Local residents heard the disturbance and ran out to pull Kearns off the man. Kearns fled the scene once he realised the police had been called.

On the late evening of Monday 19 August 2024, Charlie Kearns was arrested and charged with GBH with intent.

Detective Sergeant Leila Stanford, of Chelmsford CID, said: "This was a brutal and sustained assault which left the victim with serious facial injuries after Kearns continued to attack when the victim had lost consciousness.

"Such violence is completely unacceptable, and we are pleased that the offender has now been brought to justice and jailed for this appalling attack.

"We hope this outcome provides some reassurance to the victim and the wider community."