A dangerous thug who was locked up indefinitely maimed a man for life after he was allowed to walk free from prison.

Jamie Chesher hurled victim Simon Craddock off sea defences in Hove leaving him paralysed from the waist down.

Chesher, 32, had already been given a sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) in 2006 for assaulting and threatening to kill his wife meaning he could not be released until he was it decided he was no longer dangerous..

But the sentence was reduced to 18 months in prison by the Court of Appeal last year and he was released.

A year later, on March 21, he threw Mr Craddock from a groyne near the Peace Statue on Hove seafront.

As his victim lay motionless on the beach Chesher asked his girlfriend if she thought Mr Craddock was dead.

But neither of them stopped to call an ambulance for the victim.

At Hove Crown Court yesterday Chesher, of Regency Square, Brighton, was found guilty of causing him grievous bodily harm and was handed a new IPP sentence.

Chesher will now not be released until the Parole Board decides he is no longer a danger to the public.

It will be six and a half years before he can even be considered for release.