A drunken pub brawler has been jailed for three-and-a-half years after smashing a man’s eye socket in a takeaway restaurant – the third serious injury he had inflicted while out at night in Keighley town centre.

Paul O’Reilly, 25, was one of a group of intoxicated yobs that set upon Michael Gaughan who was celebrating his birthday in the early hours of Christmas Day, 2010, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Mr Gaughan was off work for two months after the “loud and raucous” group punched and kicked him in the Y2k takeaway in Church Street, prosecutor David Ward said on Tuesday.

He was treated at Airedale Hospital for injuries including a fractured eye socket and sprained shoulder.

Mr Ward said O’Reilly, of North Dean Avenue, Braithwaite, punched Mr Gaughan once in the face. Others attacked him as he lay on the ground.

O’Reilly pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and to aggravated vehicle taking, on February 13 last year, while on bail.

He crashed a van in Keighley town centre while almost twice over the drink-drive limit.

In 2006, O’Reilly was locked up for two years for biting off part of a man’s ear in the town’s K2 nightclub.

He pleaded guilty to wounding Lee Moyles with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.

A month after he was freed from custody, O’Reilly broke a pub manager's jaw and was sent back to jail for two years.

He punched John Cryer in the face at the Wetherspoon’s premises in Keighley.

Mr Cryer was taken to Airedale Hospital suffering from a fracture of the lower right jaw.

He was referred to surgeons at Bradford Royal Infirmary and a metal plate was inserted in his jaw and three teeth removed.

O'Reilly pleaded guilty to causing him grievous bodily harm.

On Tuesday, his barrister John Oultram said drink was at the root of his problems. He was capable of causing serious injury with one blow when drunk. He was otherwise kind and caring.

Judge Peter Benson told O’Reilly: “When you get yourself in drink, you are a serious threat to innocent people going out in the centre of Keighley. This is the third occasion you have inflicted serious injury with your drunken aggression.”

O’Reilly was banned from driving for two-and-a-half years.

After the case, Detective Inspector Richard Partis, from Airedale and North Bradford CID, said: “This was a violent and unprovoked attack that resulted in serious injuries to an innocent member of the public who was trying to enjoy a night out. People who engage in violence should expect to be dealt with robustly through the justice system and I am pleased O'Reilly is now in jail for his violent behaviour.”