A boxer who smashed a man's jaw in an unprovoked attack in a chicken shop has avoided jail after judges chose not to "destroy" his budding career.
Brett Beadon, of Star Lane in Coulsdon, whacked a customer in the face at Roosters Chicken shop in Croydon town centre in the early hours of September 29.
The 21-year-old, who was drunk at the time, landed a blow so severe it fractured Chase Thompson's jaw and left him needing surgery.
Prosecuting, Terry Curtis said the attack appeared to have come out of nowhere. "There was no interaction between the victim and the defendant" he said.
"It appeared that the victim was not aware of Beadon's presence until Beadon went directly up to Mr Thompson and hit him once in the head."
On Wednesday at Croydon Magistrates' Court, the boxer, who has his third professional fight as a light welterweight coming up, was ordered to pay £2,500 in compensation and do 200 hours of unpaid community service.
His prison sentence of 26 weeks was suspended for 12 months, with chair of the bench Eric Nash explaining: "I think it is fair to say that you have escaped going to jail by a whisker. It is not something that we have gone into lightly.
"An unprovoked assault by people trained to the level of skill and athleticism that you are is utterly unacceptable.
"It is mitigated by the fact that you have a future in front of you which we are taking active steps not to destroy."
Beadon's defence lawyer, Unan Choudhury, told the court his client, who pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm without intent, was "remorseful" and feared ruining his promising career.
He said: "What happened on that night goes completely against his training, the discipline he puts in on a day-to-day basis, and he reacted very, very foolishly.
"It was a totally unprovoked attack and he accepts that and he feels ashamed for his actions.
"This young man is at a crossroads in his life. He could either achieve very big things or if things go against him today he will have to start from scratch."
He added: "As you can see from the reports and from the references that have been provided, Mr Beadon is extremely remorseful for this and has been from the outset."
Beadon has offered an explanation as to why he hit Mr Thompson, but it was not read out in court. His defence lawyer said it was "not a valid explanation," adding: "He accepts the explanation does not justify at all what he has done."
The Advertiser featured Mr Beadon in 2012 when he signed a contract with famous British boxing trainer Adam Booth.
He has a meeting next week with the British Boxing Board of Control week to consider the consequences of his conviction, the court heard.
He was also ordered to pay £85 in prosecution costs and an £80 victim surcharge.
