A THUG who punched his girlfriend’s uncle, breaking his jaw in a New Year row, has been jailed for 12 months.

Bolton Crown Court heard how 26-year-old Ryan Franks had been celebrating with his girlfriend, Bethany Farnworth, on New Year’s Eve, 2014 when she persuaded him to carry on the partying at the Hark to Towler pub in Tottington.

But Martin Callery, prosecuting, said that shortly after the arrival of 2015, Franks was among a group of people playing pool.

“It is evident that everybody had had a lot to drink,” said Mr Callery.

“What started out as foolishness and horseplay led to confrontation and ultimately led to Ryan Franks striking Dean Farnworth in the face.”

The force of the blow broke Mr Farnworth’s jaw in two places and the court heard that he then went to the toilets, where he realised the extent of his injury.

Mr Farnworth was said to have returned to the bar and retaliated by punching his attacker, with others joining in before Franks managed to escape the pub.

Mr Farnworth needed surgery to wire his broken jaw at North Manchester General Hospital, but the court heard that he has made a full recovery.

At the time of the attack Franks, of Castlecroft Road, Bury, was on licence, having been released part way through a three- year prison sentence for violence.

He pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Farnworth.

Mark Shanks, defending, said Franks, a father-of-one, had only gone to the pub at the insistence of his girlfriend, maintains that he was acting in self-defence and had only thrown one punch.

Jailing Franks, Recorder Philip Curran said he acknowledged that many people drink a lot on New Year’s Eve.

“But most people enjoy themselves and go home without incident,” he said.

“Unfortunately, in your case that was not to be.”