​Notorious thug Royston Gaylard knocked out a teenager’s teeth when he punched him in the face, a court heard.

The 47-year-old plasterer, of Tudors Place, Priors Park, Tewkesbury, launched an unprovoked attack of “significant brutality” on Carl Hicks, Judge William Hart said at Gloucester Crown Court.

The judge passed a 42-week jail sentence on Gaylard after he admitted assaulting Mr Hicks, causing actual bodily harm on August 8, last year.

“You have a dreadful record of violence from 1980 to 2004,” said the judge.

“You punched Carl Hicks so hard in the mouth that you knocked out several of his teeth and forced one right through his lip.

“This was an attack of significant brutality, wholly in character for you.

“You have been out of trouble for five years. Although this was a brutal blow it was only one blow and it was not pre-meditated but there has to be an immediate prison term.”

Simon Emslie, prosecuting, said the attack happened in Ashgrove, Tewkesbury, at the home of Gaylard’s former partner.

When Gaylard arrived at the house, he saw Mr Hicks with friends in the garden and told them to go away.

However, Mr Hicks could then hear Gaylard shouting angrily inside the house and decided to see what was happening.

He went inside to collect a pack of beers which was waiting for him there and was told by Gaylard to get it and get out. Mr Emslie said: “He did so and as he was turning out of the door, the defendant punched him in the face with a clenched fist to the centre of his mouth.

“The force of the punch made Mr Hicks take several steps backwards. He left the house clutching his mouth.

“He could see blood on his hands and was missing some of his front teeth.

“His front right upper incisor was loosened, the left upper incisor was broken and the tooth next to it was knocked out.

“He also had a cut through his top lip.

“The assault caused him a great deal of pain and dental work.”

Carole Knotts, defending, said a pre-sentence report on Gaylard from the probation service made “very sad reading”.