Thug smashed jaw during pub attack

Michael Berry was left with horrific jaw injuries after being thumped by Craig Bascombe during a dispute in the Queen’s Arms pub in Warrington Road, Ince.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Mr Berry was in the pub with his girlfriend and they went outside for a smoke, one evening last July.

While outside they bumped into three men including 30-year-old Bascombe who told them how his brother was on crutches after being in a car accident.

The couple returned inside and began playing on the slot machine but the eldest of the three men then came in and aggressively asked Mr Berry to come outside so he could “smash his face in,” said Graham Pickavance, prosecuting.

Mr Berry declined the offer and Bascombe then came over and when Mr Berry put his drink down Bascombe punched him to the left side of his face. Bar staff separated them and the victim went home and an ambulance was called.

He was taken to Wigan Infirmary where X-rays showed a “gross fragmented fracture” to the left side of his jaw and a fracture to the right side.

He was transferred to hospital in Manchester and three days later on July 29 underwent surgery for his injuries.

On August 14 he had to return to hospital for further surgery on his left jaw, said Mr Pickavance.

Both he and his girlfriend picked out Bascombe on an identity parade on November 20. When arrested and interviewed Bascombe denied being responsible for the assault.

He said he knew who had done it but would not identify them.

The court heard that he had been tracked down because of the information he had given at the pub about his brother’s accident.

Bascombe, of Old Hall Street, Ince, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm to Mr Berry on July 26 last year and was jailed for ten and a half months.

The court heard that he has previous convictions including possessing a blade in a public place in 2005 and threatening behaviour in April this year while on bail for the attack.