Court releases pictures of man’s ‘excessive self defence’ in Adelaide fight where victim was ‘clear and present danger’

A court has released confronting images of an ugly CBD fight - but a judge says it was the victim who was ‘clearly a danger’.

An Adelaide man was acting in “excessive self defence” when he caused catastrophic injuries to a seasoned fighter who would have “seemed unstoppable” during a late-night Hindley St fight, a judge says.

Jordan Timothy Grantham, 24, was given a six-month non-parole period, to be served on home detention, in the District Court on Tuesday.

He pleaded guilty to aggravated recklessly causing serious harm over an incident that took place in the early hours of September 23, 2018.

The court released graphic images taken from footage that captured the fight, which left the victim in intensive care with a brain injury.

Jordan Timothy Grantham leaves the District Court on Tuesday after he was handed a six-month non-parole period, which will be served on home detention. Picture: Mike Burton

In sentencing, Judge Joana Fuller said, on the night of the fight, the victim — Jonathan Allen Ridge — was violent, unpredictable and capable of causing serious injury.

Judge Fuller said Ridge, who had taken MDMA tablets, had knocked a friend of Grantham’s unconscious outside a nightclub and twice attacked another man in the lead-up.

“At that stage he would have seemed unstoppable,” she said.

Footage of the series of events shows that the men had moved just off Hindley St when Ridge directed a karate-style kick at Grantham but missed and landed on the ground.

Jordan Grantham (right) pleaded guilty to aggravated recklessly causing serious harm. Picture: Nine News

He got straight back up, was pushed or kicked over and got back up for a second time with his hands out.

Grantham swung a kick as Ridge was rising to his feet.

“You did this to defend yourself but, by your plea, you accept this was excessive,” Judge Fuller said.

Jordan Grantham can be seen kicking Jonathan Ridge in the vision.

However, she said Grantham’s actions “only just” fell over the line of what was reasonable self-defence.

“Ridge was a clear and present danger to anyone unfortunate enough to become a target of his drug and alcohol-fuelled desire to fight and assault,” she said.

“It is clear that he selected his victims at random and delivered blows with the skill and precision of a seasoned fighter.

“He knew how to fight and he knew how to fell someone with a single blow.”

The court also released video of Jonathan Allen Ridge fighting in a Facebook video that was posted two or three years before the incident.

The unlawful fight, between Ridge and another person, was watched by several spectators and took place when Ridge was about 16 years old.

The video footage, which is shot in a paddock, shows one of the men shirtless and wearing gloves, and both throwing regular punches.

The judge found that Jordan Grantham acted with excessive force while defending himself against Jonathan Ridge.

Ridge was left with life-threatening injuries after the CBD fight, and spent two weeks in the ICU.

He initially had difficulty walking and has suffered ongoing effects, including a decrease in cognitive function, hearing and memory loss and fatigue.

Another man charged over the incident has pleaded not guilty and is due to stand trial next year.