A WITNESS to a pub fight in which a man suffered a broken jaw has described one of the alleged attacker kicking the victim “very forcefully” in the head.

Bobby-Joe Davies told a jury at Ipswich Crown court that he saw a man punch Thomas Donegan in the face and then saw the same man kick Mr Donegan on the side of his head in the area of his jaw while he was on all fours on the ground. He described the kick as being “very forceful.”

Mr Davies, an engineer, said Mr Donegan’s head was thrown back bythe force of the kick and he had then “slumped down” before getting back on all fours.

He told the court he had then seen a second man kick Mr Donegan’s head.

Mr Davies said he had been grabbed from behind as he went to intervene and when he managed to break free he had gone over to Mr Donegan and helped him to his feet. “Tom’s top was ripped, he had a cut to his mouth and nose and a swollen eye,” said Mr Davies.

Before the court are Daniel Knights, 23, of Valley Road, Leiston and his brother Adam Knights, 25 of Saxon Road, Saxmundham who have denied causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Donegan with intent on December 23 2010 and a less serious alternative charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The court has heard that following the alleged attack Mr Donegan underwent surgery to have a metal plate inserted in his broken jaw.

Richard Kelly, prosecuting, told the court the brothers had been attending a pre-Christmas drinks party at White Horse Hotel in Leiston and had been asked to leave after allegedly becoming involved in a scuffle in the smoking area.

The brothers had returned to the premises and Daniel Knights had allegedly become involved in an argument with Mr Donegan outside the hotel and punched him.

Mr Donegan was upset and walked through the hotel to an outside patio area where there was a confrontation during which he was allegedly punched by Daniel Knights and knocked to the ground.

Mr Donegan was then allegedly kicked by both brothers while he was on the ground and the incident had come to an end after Daniel Knights allegedly delivered a particularly forceful kick which was described by a witness as“sickening”.

Cross-examined by Noel Casey for Adam Knights Mr Davies accepted that Mr Donegan had been angry when he entered the pub.

He denied a suggestion that as he tried to intervene he had been restrained by the man he described as delivering the second kick to Mr Donegan’s head and had become involved in a scuffle with him.

Cross-examined by Steven Dyble for Daniel Knights, Mr Davies denied that he and some of Mr Donegan’s friends had been ”ready for a fight” when they went into the pub after the alleged earlier incident outside.

He denied his group had “steamed” through the pub and had given the impression they were looking for trouble.

The trial continues today (Tues).