A MAN had to have his jaw wired together after he was punched in the face outside a Bolton nightspot.

At Bolton Crown Court Tom Doxsey was spared an immediate jail sentence after admitting causing grievous bodily harm.

The judge heard that Doxsey and his victim, Aiden Sockett, had been involved in a row over a drink before they were both thrown out of Shots bar on Bradshawgate.

David Lees, prosecuting, said the row continued outside but then Doxsey lunged at 24-year-old Mr Sockett, punching him once in the face, knocking him to the ground, before kicking him in the chest.

"Other members of the public intervened but Mr Sockett was wobbly on his feet. Quite clearly he was suffering some injury," said Mr Lees.

Paramedics arrived to take him to hospital where x-rays revealed he had suffered a double fracture of his jaw.

Mr Socket was transferred to the maxillofacial unit at Blackburn Royal Infirmary where he underwent surgery to insert plates and screws in his jaw and his mouth had to be wired shut four four weeks.

He added that Mr Sockett had to take several weeks off work as an assistant manager at a fitness centre.

"It has stopped him going to the town centre and when he is with friends he feels he is a target," said Mr Lees.

Mr Sockett had been with friends enjoying a night out in Bolton on September 8 last year when they went to Shots bar.

"All Mr Sockett can recall is entering the premises and waking up in an ambulance," said Mr Lees.

When arrested Doxsey, of Dudley Avenue, Bolton, claimed the attack on Mr Sockett had been pre-emptive self defence.

He subsequently pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm.

Andrew Costello, defending, said the 25-year-old plasterer is remorseful.

"To all intents and purposes Mr Doxsey is a man who has been out regularly and never encountered any trouble of this nature before," said Mr Costello.

"Mr Doxsey accepts there was nothing that necessitated him doing what he did. He accepts it was completely unacceptable."

Judge Graeme Smith said the incident was a very violent attack.

"It came, it appears, out of the blue," said the judge.

"It would have continued if you hadn't been restrained by other onlookers."

He added that he accepts the incident was out of character.

"It does not seem to me you had any intention of causing serious harm. Having said that, your actions were reckless," he said.

Doxsey was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years and ordered to wear an electronic tag for three months, during which he will be subject to a 9pm to 6am curfew.

He was also ordered to participate in 200 hours of unpaid work and pay his victim £1,000 in compensation.