A COWARDLY self-styled fighter who launched an unprovoked attack on a man who was looking the other way has been caged for 18 months.

Father-of-two Scott Brelsford, 21, and 36-year-old Michelle Goodman knocked the man senseless in the sneaky attack, Plymouth Crown Court heard.

Brelsford punched the man as he was looking away and then returned to take a running kick towards the victim's head as he lay on the ground.

Amateur fighter Brelsford, who has previous convictions for violence, took to the ring to battle another man at a packed live event in April. The 'Heroes of the Ring 2' event drew dozens of mixed martial arts and 'cage-fighting' fans to the Oceana nightclub in Barbican Leisure Park.

The attack in Union Street last month saw Goodman also hit the stranger after the first blow – and then strike him with her handbag.

Plymouth Crown Court was shown dramatic CCTV footage which showed the incident among a crowd of revellers outside a club.

Judge Paul Darlow told Brelsford: "You directed a coward's punch timed to be delivered when the person whom you hit was looking away and he had no chance to deflect the blow or defend himself.

"That takes him to the ground. Almost immediately, Michelle Goodman, you joined in, punching him and raining blows on him with your handbag. You were heavily under the influence."

Judge Darlow jailed them both for 18 months. Goodman's sentence included four months for breaching a previous suspended prison term imposed for a pub attack.

Brelsford, of Efford Lane in Efford, and Goodman, of Hobart Street, Millbay, both admitted jointly assaulting their 37-year-old victim causing actual bodily harm in Union Street on August 5.

Alistair Verheijen, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said Brelsford, Goodman and the victim were outside The Venue nightclub when it closed at 6am.

"As far as the victim is concerned, that is the last thing he remembered until he woke up in Derriford Hospital," he added.

The court heard how police found the victim "unresponsive" on the ground, though he came around after a short time.

Mr Verheijen said the victim was left with cuts, bruises and grazes to his head, which needed stitches.

The court heard that both defendants had convictions for violence.

Jason Beal, for Brelsford, said: "When he is not drinking and getting into trouble he is capable of working.

"He has two young children and he recognises he is very little good to them in the position he is in at the moment.

"He is appalled at the way he behaved that night."

Victoria Hoyle, for Goodman, said she was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder after experiences in her childhood and her marriage.

She said that she had given up drinking and even acted as a volunteer for substance abuse charity Hamoaze House.

The court heard she thought she could go out on a social drink, but had resorted to binge drinking.