A YOUNG father who carried out an act of unprovoked “feral violence” has been jailed for the protection of the public.

David Lambrianou and his accomplice Stephen Brown punched 37-year-old Richard O’Rourke to the ground and kicked him in the head in a late-night attack in Bicester’s Market Square.

Lambrianou, who has committed more than 50 previous offences, was said to be a risk to the public due to his foul temper by a judge at Oxford Crown Court.

The court heard the pair, who had been refused entry to nearby G’s Bar at about 11.30pm on November 29, 2007, followed their victim down the road before attacking him.

Mr O’Rourke suffered a fractured cheek and needed surgery to insert a metal plate and screws into his face.

Lambrianou, 22, of Avocet Way, Bicester, and Brown, 25, of Leach Road, Bicester, were convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent at a trial in November.

Sentencing them on Friday, Recorder Richard Hamlin said: “This was a case of feral violence.

“It was a pre-meditated attack, not in the sense it was long planned, but it was deliberate targeting of an obviously vulnerable victim and your attack seems to have been launched for no reason whatsoever.”

Brown, who has a six-year-old child, was jailed for three-and-a-half years, of which he will serve half.

Lambrianou, who has an 18-month-old son and convictions for 51 previous offences, also admitted handling stolen goods in connection with £1,684 of alcohol taken from Bicester Golf and Country Club, possessing cannabis, possessing cocaine, and possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

His father Christopher, who was called to address Mr Hamlin, told the court: “For the last 12 months I’ve had no dealings with him. He knows my feelings around drugs and anger.

“I’ve tried to help divert him in so many ways but in some way I have fallen short.

“I think he needs more than custody, I think he needs help.

“There are more drugs in prison and there are more educators in prison to take him down the wrong road and I hope David will one day find the right road.”

For the attack, Recorder Hamlin jailed Lambrianou for public protection for at least 27 months, after which it will be the Parole Board’s decision whether or not to release him.

Upon release he will be on licence for at least 10 years.

He was given 19 months and four weeks in jail for the other offences, to run concurrently.

Mr Hamlin said: “You plainly have a foul temper, which let rip on this day.

“In my view you are a risk and I impose this sentence for public protection.”