A thug who beat a retired paratrooper to a pulp and left him for dead in a side street has been told he faces a lengthy prison sentence.

Michael Reynolds was beaten so badly he was in a coma for ten days, needed brain surgery and is now going blind.

He was set upon in May last year by Andrew Walden, 27, of Church Street, Littlehampton, as he walked through Worthing late at night.

He was found unconscious in a pool of blood outside a friend's flat in Bedford Row.

Yesterday at Lewes Crown Court, Walden admitted causing grievous bodily harm.

The court heard that details of the brutal assault had to be pieced together by police using CCTV footage and scientific evidence because Mr Reynolds had lost all memory of what happened.

Walden had been drinking and also claims not to remember the incident, which began when the pair argued at The Blue Ocean Fish Bar in South Street.

Christina Laing, prosecuting, said: "The victim himself has no recollection of the incident and there are no witnesses except for the defendant himself."

Philip Meredith, defending, said: "Mr Walden has always been adamant that he in no way intended, and deeply regrets, the injuries suffered by Mr Reynolds."

Meredith also asked for his client to be granted bail so he could "get his house in order" because he faced an almost inevitable jail sentence. The request was granted.

Judge Guy Anthony warned Walden that the likely outcome of the case was a lengthy prison sentence.

He said: "This was a very serious offence and has had very, very serious consequences for the victim."

Mr Reynolds, who is losing his eyesight and now walks with a white stick, listened to the proceedings from the public gallery.

After the case he said: "All I have been told is that I went out that day with friends and we had a good time.

"Whether I got into an argument with this chap or what happened I just don't know."

Mr Reynolds was taken to Worthing Hospital and later transferred to a neurological unit at Atkinson Morley Hospital, Wimbledon. He underwent major head and facial reconstructive surgery.

He spent ten days in a coma and police feared he would die.

Detective Superintendent Steve Scott, said: "This was a particularly difficult investigation as Mr Reynolds was found unconscious in the street and there were no witnesses to the attack."