BINGE drinking was blamed for a Rowley Regis plumber throwing a punch at a fellow drinker and breaking his jaw and eye socket after they had been thrown out of a Stourbridge nightspot.

John Evans lashed out with a single blow after being involved in a dispute with Martin Roberts and his brother Anthony in Lloyds Bar Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

Paul Spratt, prosecuting, said the men, who had all been drinking were ejected from the bar, and it was while they were outside the premises that Evans threw the punch.

Evans, aged 20, of Brickhouse Road, admitted wounding and also common assault and was sentenced to 20 weeks in a young offenders Institution suspended for a year.

He was also ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work in the community, placed on supervision for a year and must pay Mr Roberts £700 compensation for his injuries.

Mukhtar Ubhi, defending, said Mr Roberts had little recollection of what happened that night because of the alcohol he had downed and maintained he had played a part in the start of the incident.

There was some gesticulating and Evans felt wound up, said Mr Ubhi. "He has now stopped going out and binge drinking.”