A SALTNEY man who threw a punch in a city centre bar with such force it left his victim with multiple cheekbone fractures has been jailed.

Joshua Christopher Jones, 26, of St Mark’s Road, previously admitted grievous bodily harm on victim Greg Ellis, in an offence which happened at The Church bar in Newgate Street, Chester, on the night of July 14, 2018.

At Chester Crown Court on Friday, August 16, Jones was sentenced to 18 months in prison as Judge Patrick Thompson said “the message must go out” to those committing violent acts in the city centre at night.

Prosecuting, Simon Duncan said the victim, Mr Ellis, had been socialising with friends on July 14, 2018 in Chester and by the time they had gone to The Church Bar, the group had dwindled down to three and Mr Ellis was quite drunk but still aware of his surroundings.

He became engaged in conversation with a group of women and it was at this point, at 11.30pm, Jones became irritated as he stood beside the victim.

Jones then punched Mr Ellis in the face.

Security officers escorted Jones off the premises as Mr Ellis then went to get a taxi home, before it became apparent he needed hospital treatment.

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Jailed: Joshua Jones

Mr Ellis was referred for specialist treatment in Aintree Hospital as he had suffered facial deformity, blurred vision and malocclusion [misalignment] in his jaw, with multiple fractures to his right cheek.

A victim personal statement said Mr Ellis had required surgery and still had numbness in a part of his mouth, with a scar on his face.

He had never been the victim of an assault before and the incident had been at the forefront of his mind at a time of what should have been a celebration of personal, professional success for himself.

He had had to miss work for two weeks at a crucial time for personal development and had been forced to give up a £300 holiday, and feared a repeat attack.

Police became aware of the incident and tried to arrest Jones in February 2019 in a patrol car chase which became a chase on foot.

Police also contacted him that month via a call to Jones’s mobile phone, calling on him to hand himself in, but Jones replied he thought he was “going down for that offence”.

In May 2019, police arrested Jones following a vehicle chase.

For evading arrest, Jones had been sentenced to an 18-week prison term at Chester Magistrates Court, for which he had just completed and been out for a week before this sentencing date.

He had a number of previous convictions, including breaches of a football banning order.

Defending, Paul Wood said Jones apologised, knowing what he had done was wrong.

There was a lack of pre-meditation and it was a single blow in an isolated incident, and Jones was sober.

He had had a difficult childhood which provided strong mitigation, and time in custody had given him time to reflect on his behaviour.

Judge Thompson said the night-time violence in Chester city centre was “unfortunately becoming common,” adding: “It cannot be tolerated.

“The victim has had a very nasty injury indeed.

“The message has to go out – I am afraid the sentence is immediate custody.”