A former soldier has been jailed for eight years after beating up a man and leaving him with "severe life-changing brain injuries".
Dean Hughes, 43, hit Shane Maloney around the head with a magnum of champagne during an argument at a house in Wigan Road, Leigh, on the evening of November 8 2019.
Hughes, of Church Street, Bickershaw, then used the bottle to hit Mr Maloney, 26, in the legs and body, before kicking him in the head at least once.
Police were called to the house, and found Mr Maloney slumped in a ginnel near the house, slipping in and out of consciousness and with a large cut to the back of his head.
Prosecution barrister Michael Brady told Bolton Crown Court that the attack started as an argument about a mobile phone. The phone belonged to Mr Maloney's girlfriend, who was also in the house, along with another woman.
When Hughes refused to give the phone to Mr Maloney, Mr Maloney is said to have hit Hughes in the head with a beer bottle. Mr Maloney then got a steak knife from the dining room and Hughes grabbed the blade, cutting his own hand. It was at this point that Hughes said he hit Mr Maloney with the champagne magnum for the first time, in self defence.
Hughes then carried on the assault while Mr Maloney was down on the floor. Both men were taken to Royal Albert Edward Infirmary to be treated for their injuries.
Mr Maloney's injuries including a bleed to the brain, bruising on the brain, a blood clot on the brain and a severe skull fracture that required surgery to remove part of the skull and relieve pressure.
Upon being discharged from hospital, Hughes was interviewed by police and admitted: "I don't even know the lad, I just know he'd come out of prison for assaulting his girlfriend."
Since the assault, Mr Maloney is totally dependent on carers. He has no speech and has "a lack of understanding of verbal language". His right side is weakened and he is fed through a tube.
Mr Brady said: "Mr Maloney has suffered extensive, severe, life changing brain injuries that are unlikely to improve for the foreseeable future.
"His life span will be significantly limited due to the frequency of his chest infections. He is being put on a do not resuscitate care plan and this will remain the case for the foreseeable future.
"It's difficult to envisage a case where there is a more profound effect on a living victim."
Defending Hughes, Simon Gurney told the court how he had "fallen in with the wrong crowd" and become addicted to drugs after leaving the armed forces aged 21, due to bullying.
He went on to say that in the past two years, Hughes has lost his mother to cancer and his three brothers to drugs and alcohol.
Mr Gurney said: "The defendant is deeply upset about the consequences of his actions. He feels terrible for the position of the victim. He did not intend that the complainant would end up in this devastating state.
"He was taken to hospital himself that night and suffered injuries at the hands to the victim.
"He is a vulnerable person, he is a man who struggles with reading and writing. He has a history of mental health."
Sentencing Hughes, after he pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent, Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Martin Walsh described the incident as "a grave and serious offence".
He added: "Extreme force was used by you at a time when he was unable to defend himself and the consequences of your actions towards him have been absolutely catastrophic.
"He is likely to have lifelong cognitive and physical impairment as a result of your unlawful attack upon him and the indication is that his lifespan is limited."
Judge Walsh sentenced Hughes to eight years imprisonment, with two thirds of the sentence to be served in prison and the rest out on licence.
