A thug who planned to join the Royal Navy has been jailed after he intervened in an argument and knocked a woman unconscious outside a nightclub.

Taylor Boulden punched Katie Foster “with full force”, leaving her sprawled on the ground with a gash to her cheek.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Miss Foster had been at MooMoo Club Rooms in Tunbridge Wells in the early hours of July 2 last year and was grabbed by a man while dancing.

Prosecutor Trevor Wright said Miss Foster “swatted” him away but a woman then scratched her face and neck. They were ejected and there was then an argument in the street between the victim and Boulden’s siser.

“The defendant, who was not initially involved in the argument outside, walked a significant distance to get alongside Miss Foster,” said Mr Wright.

“Then, without provocation, he drew his right fist back and punched her with full force in the face. She fell to the ground.”

Realising what he had done, the 21-year-old builder, who had been celebrating his sister’s birthday, put her in the recovery position.

Police arrived and took over. She came to after about two minutes.

X-Rays showed there were no fractures, but Miss Foster had a large gash to her face caused by her teeth going into her left cheek. There was also scarring.

Boulden remained under surveillance on CCTV cameras and was identified by a distinctive tattoo on his arm and a white watch. He went to the passenger side of a car before being arrested.

His brother used “considerable force” to get him away from the officers, and he escaped. He was trapped shortly afterwards in a dead end.

Boulden, of Featherstone, Blindley Heath, Lingfield, Surrey, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.

He had in April this year been given a suspended sentence for grievous bodily harm with intent at Guildford Crown Court.

Kevin Walsh, defending, said Boulden had regret and horror at what he did.

“He is very remorseful,” he said. “He is disgusted that he punched a young girl in the face. He had a new baby and was terrified of going to prison.”

Mr Walsh said Boulden had applied to become a Royal Marine and submitted that the “inevitable” prison sentence could be suspended.

But jailing him for almost nine months, Judge Charles Macdonald QC said there had been some kind of retribution involving his sister.

“You punched her extremely hard,” he told Boulden. “You are considerably larger than her. The injury was relatively serious.

“Situations like this outside nightclubs are tinder boxes and can spread. This was revenge. You did try to help her.

“My conclusion is you are a dangerous and selfish young man. There is no strong personal mitigation.”