Newtown butcher broke old schoolfriend's jaw

A Mid Wales butcher broke an old schoolfriend's jaw in three places after punching him on a drunken night out, a court heard. Colin Vaughan Jones, 21, was drunk and "spoiling for a fight" Mold Crown Court was told.

He punched Jeremy Frater, who had been trying to stop him fighting someone else, the court heard.

The incident happened in Newtown last July.

Jones, of Maes y Coed, Maes y Dial, Newtown, was ordered to pay £2,000 compensation to Mr Frater and was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He had previously admitted a charge of grievous bodily harm relating to the incident, which happened outside the Castle Vaults pub in Broad Street.

Judge Dafydd Hughes also ordered him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

He said: "You are a very fortunate young man. This was a completely unprovoked attack on a victim, who in fact was trying to help.

"It was clear to him that you were spoiling for a fight, whatever the reason may have been for that it doesn't really matter.

"Mr Frater knew you, he tried to help but he sustained serious injury."

The court heard Mr Frater had to undergo surgery and titanium plates had been inserted to fix one of the breaks, he could not eat solids and had to eat through a straw.

Andrew Green, defending, said that his client was very sorry for what had happened.