AN assault after a night out resulted in one man suffering a broken jaw and another being jailed for his drunken attack.Aaron Pryke punched Mark Graves just once in the face but the force was so great that Mr Graves fell to the ground and his jaw was fractured in three places.

AN assault after a night out resulted in one man suffering a broken jaw and another being jailed for his drunken attack.

Aaron Pryke punched Mark Graves just once in the face but the force was so great that Mr Graves fell to the ground and his jaw was fractured in three places.

Mr Recorder, James Wood QC, said: “You struck what must have been an enormous blow because it resulted in fractures and an operation”.

Ipswich Crown Court heard that in the early hours of December 24 last year Mr Graves, his brother David and their friend Leanne Smith had left the Band Box in Felixstowe and were on the seafront prom all trying to keep warm under one jacket.

David Wilson, prosecuting, said Pryke was with his friend, Richard Benfield, who approached the group and made a comment about them messing about at a time when there had been murders in Suffolk.

Mr Wilson said: “Richard Benfield threw a punch at David Graves and Aaron Pryke went for David and Mark Graves. It seems Richard Benfield was mouthing off towards the Graves brothers and Aaron Pryke punched Mark Graves in the face”. Pryke was arrested and while he was in police custody he ripped up a pillow in the cell.

The 23-year-old of Crossgate Field, Felixstowe pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and criminal damage.

Joanne Eley, mitigating, said her client, who was employed by Lucas Transport Services, was “deeply ashamed by his behaviour”. Ms Eley said: “Alcohol clearly played a factor on Christmas Eve and it played a factor in his previous offences”.

The court heard that Pryke had 12 previous drink related convictions, two of which were for violence.

Ms Eley added: “He has difficult periods in his life when he feels very down and turns to alcohol”.

Judge Neil McKittrick sentenced Pryke to 15 months in prison and ordered him to pay Mr Graves £300 compensation.

He said that Pryke had completed three years of probation and rehabilitation programmes prior to committing this offence.

Judge McKittrick added: “He completed a Sink First programme and he went straight out afterwards and commits this offence of extreme violence. I reject that he would benefit from further courses and further work”.

At South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court Benfield was fined £100 after pleading guilty to common assault and he was told to pay David Graves £50 compensation and £55 towards court costs.

n. Were you the victim in the attack? Contact The Evening Star news desk on 01473 324788 or email starnews@eveningstar.co.uk