A STUDENT who fractured the jaw of a course-mate when he punched him in the face during a night out has received a suspended prison sentence.

Craig Robinson

A STUDENT who fractured the jaw of a course-mate when he punched him in the face during a night out has received a suspended prison sentence.

Kane Blowers, of Mt Pleasant, Reydon, near Southwold, had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The 18-year-old was at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday to be sentenced for the assault, which happened during a night out in Southwold on November 17, last year.

Judge Peter De Mille handed the Lowestoft College student a 30 week jail term - suspended for two years, ordered him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work to be completed within a year and told him to pay £1,000 in compensation to the victim.

The teenager, who was studying carpentry, was also told he would be subject to a four month curfew order between 9pm and 6am Monday to Thursday, 8pm to 6am on Fridays and 7pm to 6am on Saturdays and Sundays.

The court heard how Blowers and a friend were drinking in the Casa Mia bar in Ferry Road, Southwold, on the night of the assault.

When they left an altercation occurred which ended in the defendant punching Joe Davis - who he knew from his college course - twice on the right cheek.

Mr Davis was taken home in a police car but did not make a complaint until the next morning when he was unable to move his mouth properly and his eye had closed up.

Doctors at the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston discovered he had a fractured jaw and they performed an operation to insert a metal plate.

Richard Potts, prosecuting, said the assault had affected Mr Davis' confidence and that the 18-year-old was forced to repeat that year of his carpentry training because he had taken so much time off college with medical appointments.

During police interview Blowers admitted punching his course-mate but said he had been provoked by comments made by the victim.

James Onalaja, for the defence, said there were no aggravating features to the case and that his client was of previous good character.

He said Blowers - who has since completed his carpentry course - was “deeply remorseful” and regretted putting his family through the stress of the hearing.

“He had a momentary loss of self control,” Mr Onalaja said. “He has done everything he can to ensure there isn't a repeat of such action.”

Sentencing, Judge De Mille said: “This was an extremely unpleasant and serious offence of violence in a public place and anybody who reads the newspapers knows that the public is genuinely and rightly concerned about violence by young people who have taken too much to alcohol at night.”

In handing down the suspended sentence he warned: “If in that two years you are back before the courts or break the conditional requirements then you will serve those 30 weeks in prison.”