Man who broke friend's jaw is jailed

A man who broke his friend's jaw in three places after a booze-fuelled argument at The Waterfront in Brierley Hill has been jailed for 16 months.

Philip Hemming attacked Adam Tipton after the pair were thrown out of PJs wine bar at the complex. Wolverhampton Crown Court heard the GP treating Mr Tipton after the attack described it as "the worst jaw fracture he had seen". Prosecuting counsel Mr Julian Elcock said Mr Tipton could not eat solid food or work for three months after the attack and had only just started socialising again.

Mr Elcock told the court Hemming and Mr Tipton had been drinking at The Waterfront on September 14 last year with two other friends when an argument broke out in PJs and the pair were thrown out by door staff.

Hemming blamed Mr Tipton for being thrown out of the club.

The friends, who had known each other for 12 months, continued rowing outside and Hemming knocked Mr Tipton to the floor with a punch before continuing to punch and kick him, Mr Elcock added.

Hemming, aged 21, of Vicars Walk, Stourbridge, admitted causing grievous bodily harm at a previous hearing.

Sentencing him, Judge John Warner said: "It is always a matter of great regret to see someone in your situation, a man of previous good character, appear before the court.

"This is yet another example of drink leading to late-night violence.

"It was a sustained attack and your punching and kicking caused particularly serious injuries.

"I am afraid an immediate custodial sentence is the only option available to me, I would be failing in my public duty if I did not send you to jail."

The court was told Hemming had drunk 10 pints of strong lager before he was thrown out of the bar.

He mouthed "I'm sorry" to his crying girlfriend as he was led away from the dock.