Heysham man broke friend's jaw after slap on head

Judge Stuart Baker, sitting at Preston Crown court, ordered Steven Dixon to do 200 hours of unpaid work after he admitted causing actual bodily harm.

Dixon, 44, punched the man three times at his flat on Marlborough Road, Heysham, near Lancaster, on November 26, prosecutor Joe Allman said.

The judge said: “This case caused me considerable concern because the injuries depict a most unpleasant combination of bruising.

However there is no evidence those injuries have had a long term, serious effect.

“In short, after a period in which you had been drinking together something occurred which resulted in him slapping you on the head and then provoking you in some way and lunging at you, as a result of which you struck him three times.”