A man who seriously assaulted two men at an Ipswich garage, leaving one of them with life-changing injuries, has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Gladstone Allen, 32 and of Muntjac Gardens in Stowmarket, appeared for sentencing at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday.

Allen had previously been found guilty of grievous bodily harm against Stephen Greaves (GBH) and actual bodily harm (ABH) against Aarn Tomlinson, after assaulting the two men at the BP garage on the corner of Norwich Road and Meredith Road on August 13 last year. 

Allen was found guilty of both offences.

Ipswich Star: Gladstone Allen was jailed at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday.Gladstone Allen was jailed at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday. (Image: Suffolk Constabulary)

A victim impact statement written by Mr Greaves was read by the prosecution barrister, Juliet Donovan.  The court heard that both Mr Greaves and Mr Tomlinson were knocked unconscious by one punch from Allen who had been “aggressive all night”.

Mr Greaves underwent brain surgery at Addenbrooke's Hospital and was left with a “life-changing” brain injury.

“The future I had planned for myself is no longer there for me,” Mr Greaves wrote.

He described feeling like a child, having to learn “the basics of life all over again”. He said that his memory is patchy, his speech is slurred, and the assault has left him battling anxiety, crossing the road to avoid other people.

Allen’s defence barrister Simon Sherriff said that the assaults were “an absolute moment of madness with dire, dire consequences”.

Ipswich Star: Two men were injured during the assault at the BP garage. Two men were injured during the assault at the BP garage. (Image: Google Maps)

He said that his client was deeply sorry for his actions. He had attended a birthday partner with his partner on the night the incident took place, and was working towards qualifying as an electrician.

The presiding judge Mr David Wilson sentenced Allen to one year imprisonment for ABH, and three years for the GBH. These sentences will be served concurrently.

“I’m afraid it’s clear that the red mist descended and you were unable or unwilling to control your actions that night,” he said.