A builder who brutally attacked a gay man during Brighton Pride weekend has been jailed.

Jamie Pearce, 25, stamped on the victim's head and face on Brighton beach after seeing the gay man kissing his boyfriend.

Pearce, also known as Hogg, carried out the attack in August 2004 but was not sentenced until he appeared at Lewes Crown Court yesterday because he faced other charges.

He was sentenced to a total of three years and six months but because he has been in custody on remand since February 2005, he is likely to be released straight away.

Pearce, of Brunswick Terrace, Hove, was convicted after a trial in May 2005 of assaulting Victor Almeida, causing him actual bodily harm.

The homophobic attack took place in the early hours after Mr Almeida left the Wild Fruit party at the Creation nightclub in West Street.

Mr Almeida and his friend were sitting on the beach when Pearce, who was with a group of friends, started throwing stones at the couple. When Mr Almeida went up to him to ask why, Pearce replied: "You don't do this kind of stuff here, you faggot."

In the attack which followed Pearce lost his trousers and ended up running into the sea, wearing only his underpants, to avoid getting arrested.

A lifeboat arrived but Pearce swam ashore and gave himself up.

He told police he had acted in selfdefence.

Pearce, a father of two, also admitted wounding his friend Andrew Horne in June 2004. He attacked Mr Horne with a meat cleaver and a police baton at the victim's flat in Hove after the two fell out.

Mr Horne needed hospital treatment, including a blood transfusion, after the attack.

When police went to arrest Pearce at his home in Godwin Road, Hove, they found he had set up a cannabis factory in a garden shed, growing 49 small plants.

Pearce admitted cultivating the class C drug for his own use.

Pearce addressed Judge Anthony Scott-Gall, telling the court he felt remorse for his actions and denied being homophobic.

He said: "I never had a problem with gay people expressing their love."

He said he felt sickened by the injuries he caused Mr Horne.

He said: "I will spend the rest of my life regretting it."

He said being in prison had torn him apart.

He said: "I have spent almost two years in jail and I had never been to prison before. I have been locked up with heroin addicts and violent offenders. I have done my best to keep my nose clean."

He said he had missed his two daughters and intended to marry his girlfriend, a fashion designer, as soon as possible.

The wedding was planned for next week but had been called off until he was released from prison.

He said: "I want to rebuild my life.

I have lost everything. I have got absolutely nothing."