A SINGLE punch at a Colchester takeaway has changed the life of his victim forever.

Scott Williams lost control in a Southern Fried Chicken restaurant and knocked stranger Keith Rojas out from behind.

Williams was jailed for 27 months but his victim will be living with his injuries for much longer.

On April 8 the 37-year-old, of Cavendish Avenue, Colchester, was in the St Botolph's Street outlet shouting at staff.

Emotions were high as it was the third anniversary of his brother's death.

Williams, spoiling for a fight, was asked to leave the takeaway by staff but returned to knock out the 61-year-old with a single punch to the side of his head.

Mr Rojas was in Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday to see the CCTV footage of the attack and hear Williams admit the single count of causing grievous bodily harm, for which he was jailed immediately.

Charlotte Davison, prosecuting, told the court Williams was shouting "I demand respect" repeatedly at staff when the victim and his partner entered the takeaway.

Williams was waiting with his wife for his chicken.

Judge Christopher Morgan watched the aggressive behaviour on CCTV in the lead up to the attack.

Ms Davison also revealed witnesses reported him trying to pick on people inside and a taxi driver reported he was "throwing his partner around like a rag doll".

After leaving the shop twice he returned, fists clenched, while Mr Rojas faced the counter.

He punched him once to the side of the head and Mr Rojas fell unconscious to the floor hitting his head when he fell.

Mr Rojas was rushed to hospital and had emergency surgery.

Williams was soon arrested.

Jacqui Appleton, mitigating, said: "I had not heard from Williams for some time.

"Prior to that he was a regular and repeat client of mine."

She told the court during questioning he was "tearful" and did not ask about himself but about his victim and his family.

She said: "He could not explain why he did it.

"He was a prolific offender until five years ago.

"His offending came to an abrupt halt when he took steps to address the cause of his offending behaviour, his addiction to heroin."

She urged the court to suspend his sentence given his change of lifestyle.

Judge Morgan said: "He was taken from the shop.

"He returned and went up to his victim who was facing the counter and who was punched to the head."

Turning to Williams he said: "He was a complete stranger to you.

"You had worked yourself up into an aggressive frame of mind.

"It appears you had been drinking, a factor which aggravates the offence.

"You were pushing your partner around.

"Your partner was desperately trying to get you to leave.

"You returned and dealt a blow from behind against a man who was completely defenceless.

"You could have taken away Mr Rojas' life."

He will serve at least half of the 27 month sentence in jail and the rest on licence.

Mr Rojas, who lives in Braintree and was a regular volunteer and parkrunner in Colchester now faces a long recovery from his injuries and may never run again.