A MAN who knocked a soldier unconscious during a mass street brawl outside a pub has been handed a community penalty.

Keenan Moses was one of a number of revellers caught up in the savage early hours punch-up between a group of soldier and locals on January 19 last year.

After downing six pints the 22-year-old of Borough Walk, Abingdon, knocked his victim out with a single punch during the street fight outside The Blue Boar pub on Bath Street, Abingdon.

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Moses had already admitted one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm before his sentencing hearing at Oxford Crown Court yesterday.

Outlining the case prosecutor Robert Lindsey said the mass brawl first erupted outside the Abingdon pub at about 2am.

That fight was between a group of soldiers from nearby Dalton Barracks and local residents.

In CCTV played to the court, about a dozen men and women from both sides appeared to brawl on the town centre street.

Moses is seen to approach his victim Ryan Morgan before throwing a single punch to him.

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Mr Morgan was then seen to fall to the ground from the blow where he remained unconscious for some 20 minutes.

The soldier was later treated at the John Radcliffe Hospital for a fractured skull.

When he was interviewed by police about the incident Moses admitted the assault.

He went on to say that when he became caught up in the brawl he was ‘scared’ and had himself been struck, claiming he had retaliated.

In a victim personal statement Mr Morgan, who is believed to have made a full recovery, said he was worried the injury would impact his career in the military.

Moses's defence barrister Kellie Enver said that her client - who sobbed throughout the hearing - was ‘utterly remorseful.’

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She added that he was young with ‘exceptional prospects’ and said he had ‘made a dreadful decision that night’, which she called a ‘split second’ choice.

Sentencing, Judge Peter Ross called the brawl outside the pub ‘vile.’

He said: “You became involved in an ugly. horrible incident of public disorder in Abingdon town centre.

“It is the sort of vile behaviour that makes people not want to go out at night. Frankly, why should they when they might be confronted with that sort of conduct.

“You willingly became involved in a fight between local residents and soldiers from nearby Dalton Barracks. You made a deliberate choice to get involved, you made a deliberate choice to use violence.”

He was handed a 12-month community order, including a four-month curfew, and ordered to pay £1,000 compensation and do 100 hours unpaid work.

He was also banned from going to all pubs and clubs for nine months.