Mansfield man fractured jaw of ex-partner's new boyfriend with one punch

Ryan East squared up to another man on the dancefloor of the Lexis nightclub before arguing with his ex at a taxi rank on Clumber Street on April 25, said Lucy Woodcock, prosecuting.

East, aged 22, charged towards his victim and punched him once in the face, causing him to fall to the floor.

He was left with a fractured jaw, nerve damage, and required an operation to wire the left and right sides of his jaw together.

In a statement he said he lost about £1,000 in wages and was forced onto a liquid diet because of facial swelling.

He said the numbness in his jaw may be permanent and he worries about returning to work in a town centre pub because of the risk of seeing the defendant.

Morgan Hogarth, mitigating, said East, of previous good character, made full and frank admissions at the police station.

"It is a very sad case for all concerned," he said. "Words were directed to him by two females at the club and that led to him becoming aggravated.”

His ex-partner accused him of waiting for her outside and “he didn’t take that well and he directed his anger towards the male who was present.”

He works as a roofer and a kitchen fitter and pays “significant bed and board” to his mother, Mr Hogarth added.

East, of Ravensdale Road, Mansfield, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm and common assault, when he appeared at Mansfield Magistrates Court, on Tuesday, September 1.

He received a 12-month community order, with 120 hours of unpaid work and ten rehabilitation days. He was ordered to pay £3,000 compensation.