A PAIR of thugs punched a man and attacked him with a glass during a night out in Bolton.

Christian Hall was jailed for 12 months and Christopher Foster was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 18 months, following the attack at Bar Metro on Bradshawgate on the evening of June 3 last year.

Duncan Wilcock, prosecuting, told Bolton Crown Court that at 11.20pm the victim, 33-year-old Gregory Creed, was sitting in the bar alongside Hall with Foster standing on the other side of the table. Mr Wilcock said: “There was a conversation between Mr Creed and Hall but then the conversation took a turn for the worse.”

Foster leaned over the table and punched Mr Creed in the head and then Hall picked up a glass and shoved it into Mr Creed’s face before punching him.

The glass did not break when Mr Creed was hit and fell to the floor where it smashed.

Another man at the club separated the men and Hall and Foster left the bar leaving Mr Creed, who was seen to have blood coming from a cut face.

“He (Mr Creed) has not co-operated with the police in any way with the investigation,” said Mr Wilcock.

Hall, aged 29, of Ivy Road, Bury and Foster, aged 34, of Bury Road, Edenfield, both pleaded guilty to affray. The court heard that Hall has previous convictions for violence and is currently serving a prison sentence for a previous affray.

Mark Friend, defending Hall, said that Mr Creed had been confrontational during the evening but Hall regrets the way he reacted. “He could have removed himself from the position he found himself in,” said Mr Friend, who added that most of Hall’s offending has been as a result of drink and drugs.

Hugh Barton, defending Foster, said that six days after the incident, Foster was stabbed and suffered serious injuries, including an abdominal wound which needed surgery and nine days in hospital. He took alcohol and drugs and, in November last year was given a prison sentence for burglary. “It is clear he has been suffering the psychological effects of a traumatic event,” said Mr Barton. In addition to the suspended prison sentence, the Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Timothy Clayson ordered Foster to participate in 30 days of rehabilitation activities.