Chilton attacker Liam Hall is a killer who punched man in pub

But the incident, in Chilton, County Durham, in September, was far from the first time the former cage-fighter has caused agony and heartache with his violence.

Read more: Judge criticised cage fighting after jailing killer of Neil Paul Jones

Read more: Martial arts expert back behind bars after knife attack on soldier

In 2010 he was sent to prison for 30 months for manslaughter.

Hall had just left a martial arts training session, on May 30, 2009, when he encountered father-of-one Neil Paul Jones at a pub in Chilton.

After an argument about drugs, Hall punched Mr Jones, 28, in the head and then kicked him as he fell to the floor.

He remained unconscious until paramedics arrived and was later pronounced dead.

Hall was not out of prison long before he was reoffending.

In May, 2012, he stabbed soldier Paul Gray, then aged 20, after the pair clashed during house party in Chilton.

The confrontation almost led to Mr Gray losing a thumb and put his army career at risk.

Hall’s record – which shows nine convictions for a total of 14 crimes – also includes offences committed against police officers and partners or ex-partners.

Among them was an incident in which he beat a former partner in a jealous rage, during which he picked up a fence post and hit a man round the back of the head, knocking him unconscious.

Considering whether Hall should be given a life sentence, Recorder Jo Kidd said it was clear Hall was a dangerous offender and said there was no way of knowing when the risk of him causing serious harm would diminish.

She told him: “Your pattern of previous convictions leads me to the certain conclusion that previous periods of detention and rehabilitation have done nothing to reduce your risk whatsoever.”

The court also heard that much of Hall’s offending had been committed after he consumed drink and drugs.

The judge added: “It is clear that the circumstance of your previous offending – when you committed horrific acts of violence against men and against women – generally took place within context of your consumption of alcohol and drugs.”

She said rehabilitation offered to him during previous sentences had made him well-aware of the risk he posed to others when drinking and consuming alcohol, yet when he was released in May he continued to do both regularly.

He had been out of prison less than four months when he carried out the vicious attack on the three vulnerable victims, at Chilton, in September.

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