Benjamin Mitchell hit an acquaintance over the head with a glass bottle as he socialised in Old Market Square.
Nottingham Crown Court heard the assault sparked a wider altercation involving a number of other people that was captured on CCTV.
Mitchell was arrested after officers pieced together evidence that found he was responsible for the initial glass bottle attack.
The 33-year-old – who has previously served three custodial sentences for a string of wounding offences – is now back in prison having admitted to this latest crime, which took place shortly before 5.20pm on May 20.
The victim – who was celebrating his 25th birthday – told officers he was sat outside the former Debenhams store when he was approached by a young “wannabe gangster” who demanded a cigarette.
He said that when he told the younger person “manners cost nothing, say please”, an argument then broke out which prompted Mitchell to become involved.
The man said Mitchell smashed him over the head with a glass bottle, which prompted him to retaliate.
He was then chased for a short distance before being kicked to the ground.
After shocked onlookers called 999, officers found the victim falling in and out of consciousness having suffered a seizure.
He was taken to Queen’s Medical Centre and treated for three cracked ribs and a large cut to the head that required eight stitches.
Days later, police received a tip-off that the man who glassed the victim went by the nickname “Scarface”.
From this clue, an investigating officer established a suspect who went on to be positively identified by the victim.
In custody, officers advised Mitchell that his T-shirt would need to be seized from him as it matched one seen in CCTV footage of the glassing incident.
When officers returned to his cell, the T-shirt was nowhere to be found. Subsequent CCTV checks found that, as soon as the officers closed the door hatch, Mitchell flushed the T-shirt down a toilet, causing a blockage.
At court, Mitchell, of Washington Court, Arnold, pleaded guilty to wounding / inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent and committing an act with intent to pervert the course of justice.
In his basis of plea, Mitchell gave a different version of events to the one provided by the victim.
He claimed he was being set upon by other people who’d falsely accused him of stealing a bicycle and that he’d “picked up a bottle and lashed out recklessly”, which is how the victim came to be injured.
His sentencing took place on Thursday (17) and he was jailed for 20 months.
He was further made subject of a two-year restraining order that prohibits him from contacting the victim either directly or indirectly.
Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Michael Love, who led the investigation, said: “This was a disgraceful assault that took place in broad daylight in a busy part of the city.
“Mitchell once again displayed appalling violence and it is fortunate his victim was not more seriously hurt.
“Even in custody, Mitchell did what he could in a desperate attempt to derail the investigation. He has shown no remorse for his actions and fully deserves to be back behind bars.
“As investigating officer I am pleased that justice has been done and hope today’s sentencing will bring some degree of closure to the victim.
“I also think this case should serve as a warning to others about the serious consequences to being a perpetrator of violence.”
