IPSWICH: A thug who broke a man's jaw during a night out in Ipswich town centre is today beginning a two-year jail term.

IPSWICH: A thug who broke a man's jaw during a night out in Ipswich town centre is today beginning a two-year jail term.

Michael Strike had denied punching Jonathan McConnell in the face three times after the victim had stepped in to break up a fight between Strike and another man, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

However a jury rejected his evidence and found him guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Connell.

The jury also found Strike guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm to Adam Storey on the same evening by a majority verdict of 11 to 1. Strike, 27, of Walsall, had denied both charges.

Judge Peter Fenn said the incident had arisen out of a “stupid” argument between Strike and Mr Storey after the defendant had pushed into a queue at a burger van.

Strike had bitten Mr Storey on the forehead and when Mr McConnell tried to break up the fight he was struck three times leaving him with a broken jaw.

Judge Fenn said Mr McConnell had acted in a “public spirited” way in trying to break up the fight.

During the trial the court heard that on March 8 Mr Storey was standing in a queue at a burger van near Liquid nightclub when Strike had allegedly stepped into the queue in front of him.

Mr Storey had tapped Strike on the shoulder and told him there was a queue and he had then been pushed to the ground by Strike. As the men grappled on the ground Strike bit Mr Storey on the forehead.

Mr McConnell, who was also waiting in the queue for food, decided to step in and break up the fight and was then struck in the face by Strike.

The court heard that Mr McConnell underwent surgery to have plates and wires inserted in his broken jaw.

Jude Durr, for Strike, described the incident as unpleasant. He said that Mr McConnell appeared to have made a good recovery from his broken jaw and had not been left permanently disfigured.

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