A NIGHTCLUB thug who punched a woman in the face so hard she had to have her jaw rewired has admitted carrying out the attack.

Lacey Knight, 21, suffered multiple facial fractures after being attacked by John Kalema at Elements nightclub, Clacton, last December.

The mother-of-one was enjoying a Christmas night out with her friends.

Kalema, 26, caused a number of injuries to Miss Knight including black eyes and internal bleeding.

After the horrific assault she was left spitting up blood.

Appearing at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday, Kalema, of no fixed address, denied causing grievous bodily harm with intent but admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Judge David Turner QC denied his application for bail and remanded him in custody while a pre-sentence report is completed.

The court heard Kalema wanted the report done yesterday but was advised it would take at least three weeks.

He will be sentenced next month.

Referring to Kalema’s previous convictions, Judge David Turner said: “It’s a pretty lengthy record with 11 offences against a person albeit none of this gravity.

“He received a suspended sentence for violence in 2015 that just ended a month before this offence.”

Lacey’s mum Chel Orchard, 42, has previously claimed Kalema attacked her daughter for turning down his advances.

She said her daughter remembered being punched, her head being bashed on a bar and passing out on the floor before being taken to Colchester General Hospital for treatment.

At the time Ms Knight recalled Kalema smacking her in the face but the events which followed were a blur.

A later hospital visit was necessary when Miss Knight had her broken jaw rewired.

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