A man was left with life-changing injuries after being punched in the face as he stood with his hands in his pockets, a court heard.
Victim Thomas Fortune from the Rhyl area suffered a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain which had affected his memory and concentration.
The attacker, café owner Adam Matthews, 35, admitted a GBH charge and was jailed for 22 months at Mold Crown Court.
Matthews, of Ffordd Parc Castell in Bodelwyddan , who runs a café in Rhyl, was told his victim could have died.
Prosecutor David Mainstone said there had been a verbal exchange at The Bodfor public house in Rhyl and the complainant left.
But he was followed and as he stood with his hands in his pocket he was punched to the face.
He lost consciousness, two days later went to hospital because of headaches but needed emergency surgery for a fractured skull and a bleed to the brain. A plate which was inserted would be there for the rest of his life and he was hospitalised for over a week.
Judge Niclas Parry said that on March 3 this year, when heavily under the influence of alcohol, on licensed premises, he was responsible "for an attack which had significant consequences for the victim."
"You struck him a cowardly blow as he stood with his hands in his pocket. He had no chance of fending off that blow. It was totally unprovoked," said Judge Parry.
"He could have died. If he had you would have been sentenced for a one punch manslaughter which is normally five years," Judge Parry warned.
The victim had to learn to walk again, he lost his job, sustained significant financial losses and lost his driving licence. His short term
memory had been affected and as a keen sportsman he was unable to carry out sporting activities.
The defendant had a "shocking criminal record" including 43 previous offences and among robbery and serious drug offences were five previous convictions for violence.
Judge Parry said he took into account his guilty plea, his remorse, the fact he had made something of his life in recent times, had a family to
support and ran a successful business. He had a social conscience and was involved in charity work.
Defending barrister Timothy Storrie said his client was brought up in the foster care system in Manchester and his previous convictions dated back to a period when he was led astray as a young man.
But on his release from prison he had become a mentor for other youngsters in danger of going into custody.
He had moved to Rhyl where he took over a business, a small café, and he had expanded it with a loyal clientele.
Man caught with loaded BB gun in street in front of children
It supported his partner, who suffered ill-health and four children. He also employed two staff.
If he was jailed then there was a danger of losing their home and the business and he would lose the stability that he now had.
It was accepted that he had put all at stake because of his own stupidity and poor judgement but it was completely out of character for the man he now was who had been able to put his past behind him.
