AN ASYLUM-SEEKING Zimbabwean student has been jailed for 32 months for knocking an innocent woman to the ground and kicking her in the head in a sickening unprovoked attack in Wales, United Kingdom.
Cardiff Crown Court heard all Kirsty Harris, 21, had done was approach a man who appeared to be having some trouble with others late at night.
Completely unprovoked, UWIC student Tafadzwa Magatuza, 33, suddenly turned and punched her, said prosecutor Jayne Rowley.
And as she lay on the ground helpless, he kicked her full-force in the head in a moment captured on city centre CCTV cameras.
The judge who on Wednesday condemned the vicious assault as cowardly and jailed the student, said it was astonishing that she was not seriously injured.
But Judge Neil Bidder QC told Magatuza: "While the pain and swelling to her jaw and head were fortunately not serious, the psychological damage is still having an effect.
"It is hardly surprising that she reports having a loss of confidence, difficulty sleeping and flashbacks of that night."
Harris had been out for the evening with her boyfriend, before ending up in Cardiff’s "chip alley" in the early hours of July 5.
Magatuza, who was living at South Luton Place while he attended college in the city, had been assaulted himself and was angry.
Judge Bidder said: "She wasn’t responsible for what had happened to you and what you did to her was completely unjustified.
"You punched this young woman first – a completely unexpected and cowardly attack delivered with great force indeed.
"The as she was laid flat on the ground and was utterly helpless when you kicked her to the head with a full-blooded kick.
"It was dreadful violence on the streets of Cardiff.”
He said Zimbabwe-born Magatuza, who admitted a charge of attempting to cause Harris grievous bodily harm, had a history of offending which included other acts of violence.
"It shows you can be aggressive and bad-tempered and you have a problem with alcohol."
"Your main mitigation is your guilty plea although, faced with the CCTV which we have all seen today, there was little alternative."
The court heard the student, who was said by his barrister Leighton Hughes to be no longer welcome at UWIC and to have thrown away the one chance he had in life, will be considered for deportation at the end of his sentence.