A SHOPKEEPER from Old Hill suffered a fractured jaw when he was punched in the face by a man he claimed had used a forged £10 note to buy goods.

Mohammed Shazad, who runs a DIY store in Halesowen Road, was knocked to the ground by a single punch when he confronted Cameron Wright.

Blondelle Thompson, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court the victim had been alerted by a member of staff who believed 23-year- old Wright had passed over the counterfeit note.

When Mr Shazad approached him outside the shop and accused him of handing over a fake note, Wright struck him hard on the right side of his face and ran off.

He was on licence from jail at the time over an unrelated matter and was arrested more than two months later said Miss Thompson.

Wright, of Gough Road, Sparkhill, admitted causing grievous bodily harm and was jailed for 16 months.

Judge John Warner who told him: "I do not make any assumption about whether or not you had a false £10 note.

"But the punch you threw caused this shopkeeper a very unpleasant injury that required surgery at hospital."

Graham Henson, defending, said Wright was "unusually sensitive” about being approached by anybody after being attacked and stabbed following his release from prison.

"He punched first and did not ask any questions," he added.