A NIGHT out among friends ended in booze-fuelled violence which saw a man kicked and punched by three of his close pals.

Joseph Knight, Jay-Louis Eggerichs, Joseph Chippington and Jake Piercy were enjoying heavily drinking together in Harwich last year in the build-up to the attack.

But things turned sour when an argument broke out and Mr Piercy, who confessed he was “nine-out-of-ten drunk”, threw a punch at Chippington, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.

Mr Piercy then left the venue but was followed by his trio of friends who briefly attacked him before he managed to flee.

However, the others pursued him and knocked him to the ground, raining blows upon his face and body during a violent 30-second assault.

Gazette: Aerial view - HarwichAerial view - Harwich (Image: Newsquest)

Francis Lloyd, prosecuting, said all of the men had been drinking for a “considerable amount of time” and they had become “significantly influenced by drink”.

A victim impact statement read to the court stated Mr Piercy was unable to open his eyes for days after the incident due to the bruising inflicted upon him.

The victim, a railway worker, claimed he had lost £2,000 in earnings due to having to take time off work.

Knight, Eggerichs, of Main Road, Dovercourt, and Chippington, of Ashley Road, Dovercourt, all aged 25, were later arrested and all subsequently admitted causing actual bodily harm by assault on the night of December 16.

Knight, of Bay Road, Dovercourt, was sentenced last week while the other two await the conclusion of their own cases.

Gazette: Sentence - Chelmsford Crown CourtSentence - Chelmsford Crown Court (Image: Archant)

Cathryn Sutcliffe, mitigating, said her client is “not somebody who goes around getting into fights” and he is remorseful about the friendship he has now lost with Mr Piercy.

She added Knight, a keen footballer, did not kick the victim and had all but stopped drinking due to his “shock” at his behaviour.

Knight was ordered to pay £500 in compensation to Mr Piercy by Recorder Timothy Godfrey.

He must also undertake 180 hours of unpaid work and complete up to ten rehabilitation sessions with the probation service.

“You should understand you have come very close to a prison sentence,” warned Mr Godfrey,