A professional footballer who got drunk and assaulted another man in a Maidstone night club has escaped a jail sentence.

Kevin Braniff was told by a judge it “beggars belief” that he was out drinking 10 pints of beer in the middle of the season.

Imposing a suspended jail sentence and ordering the 25-year-old former Milwall striker to pay his victim £700 compensation the judge added: “You concentrate on playing football in future and not getting drunk.”

Maidstone Crown Court heard that Braniff, who plays for Portadown in Northern Ireland, was visiting another player in the town on February 3 when he went to Strawberry Moons night club.

Alex Wilson, prosecuting, said victim Craig O’Keefe was leaving with his girlfriend when another clubber picked a fight with him.

Others, including Braniff joined in and Mr O’Keefe, a law student, was kicked and punched as he lay helpless on the floor.

Alex Wilson, prosecuting, said Braniff was seen attempting to wipe blood from his shoes with an ice cube.

The victim, who suffered a broken nose and cheekbone, had also been drinking heavily and pointed out an innocent man, who was arrested.

At the police station, the man told Braniff: “You did it. Own up and be a man.” Braniff replied: “I don’t know why they arrested you. It was me and my mates.”

He then told the police and the other man was released.

The player’s lawyer told Judge Philip Statman that he had two years of his contract left and would be sacked if sent to prison.

The judge said: “I don’t understand how a professional footballer in February, which would be during the season, is consuming 10 pints of alcohol at a time when he would have been training for his next game.”

Sentencing Braniff to 16 weeks imprisonment suspended for a year, Judge Statman said: “This is yet another example of mindless thuggery in the town centre when under the influence of a substantial amount of alcohol.

“No one deserves to be set upon in the way described. I accept you were not the prime mover.”

Braniff, of Belfast, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm. He will also have to complete 120 hours community payback. He was ordered to pay the compensation at the rate of £100 a month.