A NIGHT out enjoying last year's Cowes Week fireworks turned into a nightmare for one reveller who was punched unconscious in an attack sparked by a racist remark. 

Island magistrates heard how Callum James McKernan, of Market Place, Newport, struck Thomas Hambley so hard in the face, he needed 11 stitches to his mouth.

McKernan, who admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent during the early hours of August 17 last year, faces the prospect of being jailed after the bench considered their sentencing powers too inadequate to deal with him.

Carol Smith, a street pastor, found the victim in a daze in Place Road, Cowes, and one of his group of friends, Edley Almazan, told the police McKernan was with another group causing trouble of a racist nature, said Ann Smout, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

Mr Almazan, a Filipino, said someone from McKernan's group made a racist remark, which was challenged as being unacceptable.

As Mr Hambley and his friends turned to walk away, a man on crutches struck him twice with a crutch, followed by a punch to the face by McKernan, which left him unconscious for about 20 seconds.

The victim was taken to St Mary's Hospital, Newport, where he was treated for his severe facial injury.

Mrs Smout commented: "It was a very hard blow to the mouth with an intention to cause harm. An enormous amount of force was used."

McKernan, 21, had been convicted of another assault, just weeks before the incident, on July 2 last year.

For McKernan, Oscar Vincent said his client had nothing to do with the racist part of the incident, which stemmed from when both groups were in the vicinity of a Chinese restaurant in Birmingham Road.

Mr Vincent said one of McKernan's group said he could murder a Chinese, which a member of Mr Hambley's group perceived as a racist remark directed at him.

"McKernan became involved, giving a single strike to the person he believed to be the aggressor. He wanted to protect his friend."

In his victim impact statement, Mr Hambley said: "I was supposed to be enjoying the Cowes Week fireworks when this happened.

"I can't believe defending someone against a racist remark would result in this."

He added he had been in a lot of pain for a considerable period of time, which made eating and drinking difficult.

Magistrates ordered a report on McKernan, not ruling out imprisonment, and bailed him to reappear for sentencing at the higher court on November 27.