THE personal trainer who wrecked Kiran Vadnagra's life with a single punch in a crowded bar has been jailed for two years.
Nicholas Bowers, 26, of Barking, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm at Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday after the unprovoked attack in Hooga, a bar in Victoria Road, Chelmsford, last August.
The punch put Mr Vadnagra, a married father of three and owner of lettings firm Chelmsford Property Management, into a coma. He now cannot move or feed himself and is dependent on care for the rest of his life.
Bowers also pleaded guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court to assaulting Mr Vadnagra's friend Mervyn Buwu, 34, by beating.
The court heard that Bowers first floored Mr Buwu with one punch, leaving him unconscious.
When Mr Vadnagra stepped forward he too was knocked down in the unprovoked attack at 2am on August 11.
Mr Buwu recovered quickly, but Mr Vadnagra was left in a comatose state until September and now lives at a care home in Brentwood, with his long-term future unclear.
Prosecutor Richard Scott told the court: "His prognosis is day by day, hoping he will get a little bit better each day."
Recorder Michael Ashe QC who jailed Bowers for two years said the defendant had convinced himself that Mr Buwu was someone who had threatened him in the past and panicked, walked up to him and punched him.
He said: "You have been a personal trainer and quite clearly you are very fit and you didn't realise the consequences of a punch. There was no provocation and there was a risk given your mood and temper that anybody in the vicinity could have been assaulted.
"Mr Vadnagra is a very different person as a result of these injuries."
Mr Vadnagra's wife Jean and current partner, Claire Islam, were in court with other relatives and Mr Buwu to see Bowers jailed.
The prosecutor said those close to the victim were "devastated" by what had happened.
Bowers was arrested at Stansted Airport on August 27 when he returned from a holiday in Turkey.
Mitigating, Stella Harris, said Bowers had written Mr Vadnagra a letter, and although it was not read out to the family she referred to its contents.
"He explains he deeply regrets his behaviour and he is sickened by it and is deeply sorry," said Miss Harris.
She said he had savings which he wanted to offer in compensation, but the judge said compensation should be left to any civil action.
Bowers has previous convictions for violence, including punching men in the face, and was on licence from a 28-month prison sentence for producing cannabis at the time of these assaults.
He has been serving the remainder of that term while awaiting sentence.
In a statement, Mr Vadnagra's family said: "Kiran is a very good family man with three children. He ran his own successful business, loved life and has many friends.
"Kiran loved family holidays, travel, socialising and had many things he still wanted to achieve and experience.
"Nothing prepares you for having to see a loved one like this. Kiran had severe double frontage brain damage. He cannot walk, talk, eat or drink. He is just a shell of the man he used to be.
"None of us knows what lies ahead."
