A BOXER suffered a fractured jaw after he was knocked out by a punch in the street.

Matthew Brown was out in Bolton town centre with friends after competing in a boxing tournament at the Holiday Inn on March 2 when he encountered Joel Halliday in Bradshawgate.

Bolton Crown Court heard how there had previously been a disagreement between the two men and Halliday lashed out when Mr Brown refused to apologise during the encounter at 4.15am.

Mr Halliday punched his victim three times and he fell to the ground.The court heard that Mr Brown has no memory of the attack after waking up in hospital.

"By the time he got to hospital Mr Brown indicated he had been drinking to excess and had also taken some cocaine," said Nicholas Clarke, prosecuting.

Police arrested 23-year-old Halliday within 10 minutes of the assault.

"He was interviewed and said Mr Brown had told him to f*** off with regard to the apology he had requested," said Mr Clarke.

Mr Brown suffered a fractured jaw, which did not need surgery and has healed.

In a statement Mr Brown said: "This incident has made me angry. I do not know why it happened."

Halliday, of Beech Grove, Little Hulton, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm.

The court heard that the defendant, who has no previous convictions, was a victim of serious crime himself when he was stabbed at the Level nightclub in Bolton at New Year 2017.

Jane Miller, defending, said Halliday, who works as a tiler, had previously lived an honest lifestyle which has fallen apart after the stabbing.

"Mr Halliday is truly remorseful about his actions," said Miss Miller.

Halliday was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, electronically tagged and made subject to an 8pm to 5am curfew for three months.

He must also undertake 160 hours of unpaid work and pay his victim £1,000 in compensation.

The Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Martin Walsh told him: "An attack of this sort could have catastrophic consequences.

"These courts often encounter situations where an attack such as this, somebody bangs their head, with potentially fatal consequences.

"Violence of this sort, fuelled by alcohol in the early hours of the morning is an all too frequent scenario in the town centre."