Jail for thug who put clubber in coma (From Chelmsford Weekly News)

Jail for thug who put clubber in coma

9:51am Thursday 10th January 2013 in News

A PERSONAL trainer who wrecked a man's life with a single punch in a crowded bar has been jailed for two years.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard on Wednesday how Nicholas Bowers, 26, of no fixed abode, caused Kiran Vadnagara to suffer a severe traumatic brain injury and cannot move or feed himself.

Bowers, formerly of Dovehouse Mead, Barking, admitted causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Vadnagara and assaulting his friend Meryn Buwo, 34, by beating.

The courtroom heard how the incident took place at around 2am on 11 August last year in Hooga Bar, in Victoria Road.

Mr Buwo was knocked unconscious by Bowers with a single punch and when Mr Vadnagara stepped forward he too was felled with one blow.

Mr Buwo came round quickly but his friend was left in a comatose state until September.

His cognitive abilities have been reduced and he is now in a care home in Brentwood and his long term future is unclear, the court was told.

"His prognosis is day by day, hoping he will get a little bit better each day," Richard Scott, prosecuting, told the court.

Recorder Michael Ashe QC jailed Bowers for two years, saying: "You have been a personal trainer and quite clearly you are very fit and you didn't realise the consequences of a punch."

The judge said Bowers had convinced himself that Mr Buwo was someone who had threatened him in the past and had panicked, walked up to him and punched him. Mr Vadnagara was standing next to him.

"There was no provocation and there was a risk given your mood and temper that anybody in the vicinity could have been assaulted."

He added: "Mr Vadnagara is a very different person as a result of these injuries."

Mr Vadnagara has two daughters and a son. His ex-wife Jean and his current partner Claire Islam were in court with other relatives, and Mr Buwo, to see Bowers jailed.

The prosecutor said those close to the victim were "devastated" by what had happened.

Bowers was arrested at Stansted Airport on 27 August when he returned from a holiday in Turkey.

Stella Harris, mitigating, said Bowers had written Mr Vadnagara a letter. It was not read out to the family but she referred to its contents.

She said: "He explains he deeply regrets his behaviour and he is sickened by it and is deeply sorry."

She said he had savings which he wanted to offer in compensation, but the judge said compensation should be left to any civil action.

Bowers has previous convictions for violence, including punching men in the face and was on licence from a 28-month prison sentence for producing cannabis at the time of these assaults.

He has been serving the remainder of that term while awaiting sentence.