A JILTED drug addict has been jailed after launching a “catastrophic” attack on a supposed love rival in a nightclub queue.

Nicholas Leon launched the vicious attack after spotting his ex in the queue outside the Concorde 2 club in Madeira Drive, Brighton, in December.

The father of four mistakenly thought that Andrew Wood was with her, and launched a powerful punch which left his victim having to be fed through a straw in hospital after sustaining a broken jaw.

Leon, 33, of Woodfield Road in Thames Ditton, Surrey, has been a crack cocaine addict since he was 16 and had notched up 23 previous convictions from a total of 56 offences, including burglary and drugs offences.

He was on bail for a burglary in June last year and still subject to a conditional discharge from March 2017 when he carried out the attack on Mr Wood.

Jonathan Edwards, prosecuting, told Brighton Crown Court Leon surged through the crowd waiting to get into the nightclub to assault Mr Wood from behind in a “cowardly” attack, before running away.

Mr Edwards said the victim was recovering from complex regional pain syndrome and was hoping to enjoy his first night out since getting some control over the condition.

But he didn’t even get through the door before he was attacked.

He was taken to hospital, where he required hours of surgery and now has four metal plates in his face.

It was one of a string of offences committed by Leon, who admitted a further 15 charges in what both Mr Edwards and Judge Christine Henson QC described as a “one man crime spree”.

The crimes included stealing a camera and satnav from cars, cash and paintbrushes from a shop, and using stolen bank cards at Gatwick and in London.

Leon appeared on screen in court via videolink from Lewes Prison and his defence counsel James Hay said he was genuinely remorseful for his actions.

He has taken up reading philosophy and practising meditation in prison, and is studying towards achieving equivalent qualifications for maths and English GCSEs.

Mr Hay read out a letter which Leon had written to victim Mr Wood, which read: “I’m writing to you to express my sincere apologies.

“As a result of my relationship breaking down I fell into depression and drug use which had a devastating effect on my mental health.

“I now know I misinterpreted the situation that night.

“I truly thought you were someone else.

“I was wrong, and looking back I should not have reacted in that way.

“It left me unable to sleep when I saw the extent of your injuries.

“I am sorry and I hope the healing process is as quick as possible.”

Judge Henson told him his previous criminal record read like a “relentless list of dishonesty and drugs” and said that all lenient sentencing options had been exhausted.

She jailed him for a total of three years and six months for causing grievous bodily harm and for the 15 other offences.