A CLUBBER who threw an unprovoked punch outside an Ipswich night-spot leaving a man fighting for his life has been warned to expect prison.Paul Williams struck Matthew Landsbury after leaving Liquid nightclub, causing him to fall, crack his head open on the pavement and require life-saving brain surgery.

A CLUBBER who threw an unprovoked punch outside an Ipswich night-spot leaving a man fighting for his life has been warned to expect prison.

Paul Williams struck Matthew Landsbury after leaving Liquid nightclub, causing him to fall, crack his head open on the pavement and require life-saving brain surgery.

Mr Landsbury was only given a 50 per cent chance of survival following the attack.

Appearing before South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court, Williams, 22, of Berners Street, Ipswich, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Alongside Williams was David Tooke, also 22, of Westwood Avenue, who pleaded guilty to common assault after repeatedly punching the Mr Landsburt as he held him in a headlock prior to Williams' punch.

The incidents took place on April 24 outside the Cardinal Park venue. The court heard how Williams, Tooke and another man had been out in Ipswich town centre celebrating a birthday.

After an argument inside Liquid, the three men left at around 3am. It was at this point a second argument broke out, followed by a scuffle.

Godfried Duah, prosecuting said: "Mr Tooke grabbed the victim in a headlock and then punched him several times in the head.

"This resulted in the victim suffering facial injuries and also bleeding from his nose.

"Then Mr Williams, in an unprovoked attack, hit the victim with one punch to the face and the force was so hard it knocked him to the ground causing him to crack his head on the pavement. He was left unconscious with blood loss from a wound in his head."

Mr Landsbury was taken to hospital and later on had to be readmitted after having bleeding on the brain.

Mr Duah said: "In May he went to Addenbrooke's Hospital to have brain surgery to remove abscesses from his brain. These were caused by the trauma that I have already described.

"The victim is still in a condition where he has to be assessed."

Roger Stewart, for Williams, said it was just one blow that had caused the serious injury.

He said: "You have to look at not just the act, but the intention too. He is very remorseful."

Ian Duckworth, for Tooke described the incident as a "tragic case all round".

But he added: "He accepts he punches the man and puts him in the headlock, but the rest has nothing to do with him."

Judith Palmer, chairman of the bench, told Williams the attack was an "intentional and serious assault on a stranger in a public place".

She added: "The only mitigation is that it was just one punch and you have no previous convictions for violence. But this is too serious for us to deal with. You will be sent to crown court for sentencing."

However Tooke, who has one previous conviction for actual bodily harm, will be sentenced by magistrates on August 19 after a pre-sentence report can be carried out.