A MAN'S cheekbone was fractured after a prostitute's boyfriend accused him of not paying for her services.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Anthony Fearn went round to John Edwards' home in Broad Walk, Westhoughton, on August 6 last year, demanding he hand over cash.

But Katie Jones, prosecuting, said that when Mr Edwards refused, Fearn and another man forced their way into his home, stole his television and Fearn assaulted him.

Miss Jones said Mr Edwards had previously been woken at 2.30am by Laura Ord, shouting outside his home.

"At the time Laura Ord was working as a prostitute and Mr Edwards had been one of her clients," she said.

Later Fearn, aged 33, of Glebe Street, Westhoughton, turned up at the property and Mr Edwards went out to talk to him.

"Whether or not Mr Edwards did, in fact, owe Laura Ord money as part of a professional arrangement, it turned into the commission of this offence," said Miss Jones.

The two men pushed their way into the property, the second man ripped out wires from a large television and stole it and Fearn took £90 in cash.

"Mr Edwards was struck by the defendant, fracturing his left cheek bone," said Miss Jones.

During the incident police were called and arrested Fearn, who initially denied he had been at the property.

Mr Edwards went to hospital a few days later but refused surgery.

Fearn pleaded guilty to burglary and causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Edwards on the day his trial was due to start.

The court heard that Laura Ord has already been convicted for causing criminal damage.

Richard English, defending Fearn, said that his life has been affected by drugs since he was a teenager and the father-of-two walks with a crutch.

He has been in custody since August and Judge Richard Gioserano decided to adjourn sentencing until February 15 to allow time for a report to be compiled by the probation service to consider whether he should spend more time in jail