A MAN was left with a fractured eye socket after a stranger hurled a brick at his face following a confrontation.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Mark Deluce was in Bolton town centre at 7pm on July 7, 2018 when he was approached by Leon Blears and a woman outside Primark on Bradshawgate, who asked him for some food.

David Lees, prosecuting, told how Mr 36-year-old Deluce pointed the woman in the direction of places were she could obtain a free meal.

"He tried to engage her in discussion and said she could go to one of the local takeaways you can get free food and you can get a list from an organisation that helps homeless people," said Mr Lees.

"She seemed to take offence and complained about the quality of food they would get."

Mr Deluce left them and went to Barrister’s bar with his friends and left at 4am on his own.

But when he went to a cashpoint and was walking towards a taxi rank, he got to the junction of Bow Street and Crown Street and saw 33-year-old Mr Blears and the woman again.

"Mr Blears, possibly because of the discussion that had gone on earlier in the evening, picked a brick off the floor and hit Mr Deluce on the left side of the face," said Mr Lees.

"Nothing was said and when the defendant realised he hadn't knocked Mr Deluce to the ground his face dropped."

Door staff intervened and Mr Deluce went home but the following day, when he went to hospital, doctors discovered he had a fractured eye socket.

Blears was identified and arrested.

In a victim impact statement Mr Deluce told the court that he now suffers from anxiety when he goes out.

“I am upset by what happened because all I was originally trying to do was help by advising them to go to BIDAS,” he said.

Blears, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm. The court heard he has several previous convictions for robbery and violence.

Louise Cowen, defending, said Blears is remorseful.

"At the time he was leading a chaotic life and was homeless," she said.

He appeared for sentencing via a video link from prison, where he is currently serving a four years and 10 month sentence, imposed in January, for attempting to rob a corner shop.

READ MORE: Jailed after attempting to rob shop

Judge Graeme Smith sentenced Blears to a further 14 months in prison, to be served at the end of his current sentence.

He told Blears: "This was an unprovoked attack upon Mark Deluce using a weapon that was immediately to hand. Fortunately the injury to him was not more serious.

"There was no good reason whatsoever for you behaving in that way whatever offence you might have felt had been given to the woman you were friendly with."