A SOLDIER who felled a man in a drunken Christmas Day melee has been jailed for 13 months.

Matthew Alltree, 29, left this victim 'out cold and lifeless' on the kitchen floor after stepping into the fight and landing a single punch.

His victim, Shane Trickett, was left with a fractured jaw and bleed to the brain when he hit his head on the floor as he fell.

Mr Trickett was in the process of joining the army but his plans are now on hold as a result of his injuries, Preston Crown Court heard.

Alltree, of Gospel Farm Road, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Trickett at the party in Church.

In a victim personal statement, Mr Trickett, said: “This has altered me as a person. It is unlikely I will get into the army as I had hoped.

“My life is nothing like it was before the assault. I don’t see it improving in any way and I don’t see how it will ever be the same as it was before.”

The court heard a number of people were at Mr Trickett’s parents house on the evening of Christmas Day.

They had been drinking and a row broke out in the kitchen.

Judge Jonathan Gibson said: “There came a point when you struck Mr Trickett, a single blow with your fist.

“It must have been a considerable blow as it put him to the floor and not only did he have an injury as a result of the blow but also an injury as a result of hitting the floor.

“It did lead to a serious injury. He was described as lifeless and out cold by witnesses and he had a fracture and a bleed to the brain, as well as an injury to his jaw.

“He was treated in hospital although fortunately he was treated conservatively, and his victim statement indicates he has had a number of problems since.”

Mr Trickett returned to his job at McDonald’s a month later but still suffers hearing loss and has lost motivation for exercise and work.

The court heard Alltree had led a positive life until 2016 when he began suffering personal difficulties.

In August he was handed a suspended sentence for attacking his girlfriend which he was serving at the time of the attack. Judge Gibson activated three months of his suspended sentence and added 10 months for the GBH charge.