A MARTIAL artist who left a reveller with a fractured jaw during an early hours drink-fuelled fight has been spared jail.

Jack Mason punched his victim twice during the violence which took place outside Thame Snooker Club, off Wellington Street.

The 32-year-old of Manor Road, Swindon, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court today after admitting inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent.

Prosecutors said that the victim had been thrown out of the snooker club at about 3.30am on November 17 2018.

Shortly after Mason approached the man and punched him twice in quick succession.

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The victim was knocked to the ground and he was later taken to the Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury for treatment.

The court heard that he had suffered two fractures to his jaw and was unable to eat solid food for a time.

In mitigation, Lyall Thompson, defending, said that his client was a trained martial artist and had no relevant previous convictions for violence.

He added that since the offence there had been no other similar incidents and he had made efforts to stay out of pubs in the evening.

He went on to say that his client, who he described as a 'complex character', had a 'realistic prospect of rehabilitation.'

Sentencing, Judge Nigel Daly called the episode of violence 'unprovoked' and said that both parties had been drunk, with Mason having had up to nine pints.

Mason was handed a seven-month jail term, suspended for 24 months.

As part of that sentence he must carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and complete 30 days on the Resolve programme and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He must also pay a statutory victim surcharge.