A thug viciously attacked another man in a case of mistaken identity while he was on licence from a seven-year jail sentence for violence that shocked a judge.

Judge Michael Carroll, who has since retired, said of CCTV footage of a brutal kidnap and robbery Craig Hotchkiss committed with others in 2014: “I don’t think I have ever seen such violence in my experience, other than homicide. "It was literally sickening. It was absolutely unconscionable."

Having been released from prison, the 29-year-old father attacked Shane Coveney, fracturing his cheekbone, after insisting he knew who burgled his sister’s home.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Hotchkiss had been seen poking a knife through a letterbox at flats at Lancaster Court, York Road, Gravesend, on February 22 this year.

He shouted out “Wrong number” and went to Mr Coveney’s flat, where he was with friends.

The victim opened the door and recognised Hotchkiss.

Another man stood at the door as Hotchkiss demanded: “Who has broken into my sister’s house? You must ------- know who it was.”

Mr Coveney replied that he did not know what he was talking about.

Hotchkiss had a piece of glass in his hand and waved it in the victim’s face, as he insisted: “If you know who broke into my sister’s house you had better ------- tell me.”

Prosecutor Peter Alcock said the other man with Hotchkiss urged him: “Just ------- do him.”

Hotchkiss pulled out a solid cosh about 4in long and repeatedly struck Mr Coveney on the legs with it until it broke.

The focus of the assault then moved to his face.

“He jabbed it in his face a couple of times and hit him directly in the right eye,” said Mr Alcock.

“He said the light had gone off and he was struck.”

Hotchkiss shouted: “Who was it? Tell me who ------- done it?” He then left.

Police took the victim to hospital for treatment. As well as the fracture and bruising, cuts to his legs needed stitching.

Hotchkiss, of Oak Road, Gravesend, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm.

"My concern is your violence is escalating from minor assaults to robbery and kidnapping, and now this" - Judge Martin Huseyin

He was released from the seven-year sentence last October and then recalled to serve the remainder after his arrest for the latest sentences.

Jailing him for three years, Judge Martin Huseyin said: “You were not only taking the law into your own hands, you thought that man had something to do with burgling your sister and went and committed a really serious offence.

“I know you have got a short fuse and react to situations violently.

"It is only you who can change that way of reacting. My concern is your violence is escalating from minor assaults to robbery and kidnapping, and now this.”

Tim Bass, defending, said Hotchkiss’ sister lived on a rough council estate with her two young children and he was worried about “undesirables” breaking into her home.

“His response was rather ill-judged and unwarranted,” he said.

“The wrong person was confronted.”

Mr Bass said Hotchkiss was regularly beaten by his parents as a child.

His mother eventually told him to pack his bags when he was 12 and he then lived in a hostel.

“It doesn’t justify in any way his actions,” he said.

“He wants to wipe the slate clean. He was just starting to get his feet back on the ground.”

Judge Huyseyin said: “Given what I have heard about your background, I am going to draw back from the four-year starting point. I don’t know whether I am wise to do that.

“I can only hope you will use the opportunity when released on licence once again to go back to attempt to get yourself a trade which you had started.

“It is a shame that having started down the right course you committed offences as unpleasant as this.”

Investigating officer, DC James Hales said: "Hotchkiss decided to take the law into his own hands and I hope this sentencing acts as a reminder to people that they cannot behave in such a manner and that the police will always investigate crimes and should be left to do so.

"His behaviour that day caused other residents to fear for their safety as well as led to serious injuries to the victim and I’m pleased he has been sentenced accordingly."