SA man jailed over drunken attack

A man who seriously injured an elderly can collector, repeatedly punching and kicking the 81-year-old in the head, has been jailed for at least two years.

Jason Michael Hynes, 38, had been on a day-long drinking binge before the attack on Cyril Mayfield outside a hotel in Adelaide in October last year.

In the District Court on Wednesday, Judge Julie McIntyre described Hynes' actions as disgraceful and cowardly.

She said Hynes attacked his victim "for no good reason other than you were drunk and angry".

Mr Mayfield suffered a number of facial fractures and was left covered in blood.

Judge McIntyre said the two men had been involved in a verbal exchange immediately before the incident and Hynes' response was to launch his attack.

Hynes pleaded guilty to causing serious harm with intent to cause harm and the judge said he had expressed considerable remorse.

She imposed a head sentence of three years and 10 months and a non-parole period of two years.