Mr Harman, who was walking down Gabriel’s Hill, had not met Fraser before and, without warning, following minimal conversation between them, was struck a single blow which left him with two lacerations.
Fraser, formerly from Maidstone, later claimed he had done nothing more than punch Mr Harman to the side of the head with his fist and that the injuries must have been caused by someone else.
But this account was subsequently rejected by a jury at his trial in June – and branded “ludicrous” by Recorder Mark Jones at his sentencing hearing on Tuesday (August 19).
Maidstone Crown Court also heard that following his arrest in nearby Week Street an hour after the assault, the 41-year-old exposed his penis and threatened to urinate in a police van cell before kicking two officers and repeatedly spitting at them.
As to what the judge said was an “appalling” record, Fraser was on licence from prison at the time, having been released from a 38-month jail term imposed at the same court in 2022 for an assault in which he had headbutted a man before sinking his teeth into his chest and ear, biting off a chunk which he then spat on the ground.
That violent episode was just one in a long history of escalating criminality, with a total of 58 convictions for 141 offences, including three for wounding, 20 for assaulting police or emergency workers and 19 for criminal damage.
At his trial, jurors heard that before the unwarranted attack on Mr Harman, Fraser had complained to police about being assaulted by a group of men and losing his shoe in the process.
But as officers tried to obtain more details from him, he became frustrated and walked off.
A short time later – and before his encounter with Mr Harman – he returned to tell them “I’ve reported this so if somebody dies, you know why it happened”.
This comment, said prosecutor Andrew Hallworth, gave the impression Fraser was “on the warpath”.
In the meantime, Mr Harman had been to a nightclub in the town and, having left shortly before 4am, was walking down the street with a friend when he was confronted and assaulted.
As the injured man ran off, Fraser then became embroiled in an altercation with another group of men.
It was after his arrest and while in custody at Tonbridge police station, that a slurring and barely able to walk Fraser was helped to a van to be transported to hospital.
But having first exposed his penis and said he was going to relieve himself, he then launched what the prosecutor said was an “intentional” kick towards one officer.
Although he was able to move his head out of the way in time, the kick hit his colleague to the side of his head instead.
Fraser then started spitting, making “a big show of it”, said Mr Hallworth.
He did it multiple times, despite being asked not to, directing his sputum in their direction but fortunately it landed on the glass separating him from the officers.
Fraser, of Beckenham Road, Beckenham, later admitted two offences of assaulting an emergency worker and one of criminal damage.
Having denied wounding Mr Harman with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm, he was found guilty by the jury.
A psychological assessment concluded Fraser has symptoms consistent with ADHD and possibly autism, as well as “a deep dislike, even fear, of humiliation”.
Tom Stern, defending, told the court at the root of Fraser’s behaviour, emotional challenges and “inability to regulate himself” was the death of his parents, in particular his mother.
But he said his client had undertaken several counselling sessions while in prison, achieved enhanced status, and was “seeking to better himself”.
“He just wants to get out of this cycle of being in and out of court and in and out of custody,” added Mr Stern.
But, having now been handed a seven-year extended sentence due to the “high risk of serious harm” he presents, Fraser faces several more years behind bars.
Jailing Fraser, Recorder Jones told him that at the time of his encounter with Mr Harman, he (Fraser) was “angry and looking to vent his spleen”, and must have struck out while holding something in his hand.
“It doesn’t matter what and one can only speculate,” he added. “But those deep lacerations could not have been caused by a fist alone.
“But while you made it clear you were out for revenge, it (the offence) falls short of significant planning or premeditation, and I cannot be sure what you had in your hand was a highly dangerous weapon.
“Mercifully for the victim, and for you, it didn’t cause more serious harm.”
Referring to his behaviour with police post-arrest, the judge said Fraser had lashed out at those simply trying to help him.
It was also said that since the jury’s finding of guilt, Fraser had continued to deny the attack on Mr Harman.
“You like to present yourself as a nice guy who will do anything for anyone,” remarked Recorder Jones. “But there is another, dark side to you that you feel unable to accept or control.”
Ruling that Fraser was a dangerous offender in the legal sense and that an extended sentence was therefore required, he continued: “I am satisfied that you do present a high risk of serious harm to members of the public, known adults and police.
“You have displayed extreme violence on four occasions, culminating in this most serious offence (the attack on Mr Harman. A (determinate) sentence of five years would not fully address the risk you present.”
Under the extended sentence imposed, Fraser was handed a five-year jail term of which he must serve two-thirds before he can apply for parole.
Then, once deemed safe for release, any licence period will be extended by two years.
