A doorman who knocked out an ex-serviceman with a single punch switched off his bodyworn camera before the assault and told him “that’s what you get for coming at me.”
Adam Lock, 30, had refused entry to Kevin Penman who had been out drinking with friends and was intoxicated.
The decision caused an argument between the two and when Mr Penman walked away the doorman switched off his bodycam and threw a punch.
The blow caused the victim to fall to the floor and hit his head hard on the concrete, knocking him unconscious as the defendant stood over him and said "That's what you get for coming at me".
Cardiff Crown Court was told the assault was caught on CCTV, Wales Online reported.
Prosecutor Ffion Tomos told proceedings witnesses standing 10 metres away heard Mr Penman's head thud on the pavement as another passerby told Lock he "should be ashamed" as children were nearby.
Lock also knocked a phone out of someone's hand as they tried to film him.
The victim was taken to hospital to receive treatment for a serious head injury, and had no recollection of the assault.
A CT scan found he suffered a bleed around the brain, contusion to the left side of the brain, swelling and bleeding to the nose as well as swelling to the back of his head.
He was released from hospital two days later.
In a victim personal statement read to the court, Mr Penman said the injury he received resulted in his driving licence being revoked and was unable to work as a HGV driver.
He said: “I always thought of myself as a confident and resilient man having served in the Army but the assault in October has knocked my confidence in a way I did not think was possible.”
He added he had been told he may not be able to return to work for two years and was having to use savings to help him pay household bills.
The victim also said he has difficulty sleeping and was unable to leave the house for a month after the attack.
Lock, of Springwood, Llanedeyrn , was arrested and claimed he had acted in self defence but this was disproved by the CCTV footage which showed Mr Penman backing away when the punch was thrown.
He later pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm. The court heard he had convictions relating to drugs; drunken and disorderly behaviour; and a caution for a public order matter.
In mitigation, David Pinnell said his client was suspended and dismissed from his job as a doorman as a result of the assault and will never work in the security industry again.
He had obtained employment as a delivery driver for a building merchant but was also dismissed from that role due to the impending conviction, but he has an offer of further employment should he not be sent to prison.
Further mitigation made on his behalf revealed Lock's mother died in 2021 which caused him to struggle with his mental health, and he is a father to four children. He also works in the community as a football coach.
Sentencing, Judge Paul Hobson said: "Your reaction to (the victim) was wholly wrong.
“One of the people who writes on your behalf says you acted professionally at all times. That individual is deluded and does you no favours.
“Your reaction by switching off your bodyworn camera and pursuing Mr Penman was entirely unjustified and when you punched him that was also entirely unjustified."
Lock was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months.
He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work, a rehabilitation activity requirement of eight days and to pay court costs of £900.
