A MAN has been spared jail following a group brawl which saw his victim hit over the head with a shovel, punched multiple times.

Jamie Spellacey, 44, of High Street, Canvey, struck the victim sparking a fight in a quiet Canvey street.

Basildon Crown Court heard the victim had been drinking in a Basildon pub with work friends before going to Spellacey’s home.

The group continued drinking into the afternoon and evening with the victim leaving at 10.30pm and stumbling out the address.

But moments later CCTV footage shows the defendant walking towards the victim holding a shovel.

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The victim climbed over a fence surrounding the defendant’s driveway and stumbled to the floor once again.

Spellacey is then seen approaching him and striking him in the head with a shovel.

A grapple ensued and Spellacey punched the victim in the head causing him to fall, and then punching him a further three times in the head.

Two others tried to restrain the duo but the victim ended up fighting one of the men.

A group attack followed with the victim being hit in the head several more times and put in a chokehold.

Fred Batstone, defending said: “This incident was not in response to nothing, Mr Spellacey is not the type of person to commit an offence like that for no reason.

“His last offence was 13 years ago.

“Mr Spellacey’s wife reviewed CCTV evidence which saw the victim grabbing the throat of his partner and holding her over a fence.”

Spellacey pleaded guilty to ABH and not guilty to GBH when he appeared at Basildon Magistrates Court on March 30.

He attended Basildon Crown Court on Wednesday and was sentenced by Recorder Oliver Campbell KC.

Recorder Campbell sentenced Spellacey to 10 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He is required to wear an alcohol monitoring tag for 100 days and undertake 150 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months.