A heated argument between two homeless Polish friends ended with one of them kicking and punching the other, a court heard.

Jakub Stefankowski was naked as Lukasz Szymczak launched the vicious attack in a dead-end road off Angel Walk in Tonbridge on November 10 last year.

Szymczak, 28, later claimed he went to help the victim, but a witness gave a different account of what happened between the two drunk men.

Paul Simpson told police he heard “aggressive shouting” and saw Mr Stefankowski lying on the ground with Szymczak standing over him.

“He saw the victim stand up,” said prosecutor Ian Foinette. “He was unsteady and staggering. It appears his clothing had been removed.

"Your behaviour that night when drunk and seen by the public will fuel the bigoted abuse of the racist reactionaries..." - Judge Jeremy Carey

“The defendant was to say the complainant was entirely naked and lying in a foetal position on the ground when he came across him.”

Szymczak kicked Mr Stefankowski several times in the head. He shoved the victim and he hit his head on the concrete.

Mr Simpson called the police. Officers saw blood on the ground as they arrested Szymczak.

Mr Foinette said there was no formal medical evidence as Mr Stefankowski was so frightened he had returned to Poland.

But he had a fractured nose and cuts and bruises to his face.Szymczak, who was sleeping rough in a tent in the area, was jailed for two years and three months after admitting inflicting grievous bodily harm.

He had previous convictions in Poland and served prison sentences there. He was given a suspended sentence by magistrates in London last year for having a bladed article.

Judge Jeremy Carey told Szymczak: “Your behaviour that night when drunk and seen by the public will fuel the bigoted abuse of the racist reactionaries who might be willing to categorise all foreigners unworthy of support in this country.

“In fact, as is well known, many if not most of your countrymen and women work hard and effectively when they come here, and you do them a great disservice by your anti-social and criminal behaviour.”

The single father was said to have come to the UK about a year ago “for a fresh start”. He had undertaken manual labour but was unemployed at the time.