A FORMER-SOLDIER who broke another man’s jaw in two places in an unprovoked attack during the World Cup was sentenced today.

Gregory Clayton, 28, from Lincoln Avenue in Little Lever was also sentenced on a separate harassment charge after he had facilitated a loan between two men.

Manchester Crown Court, Minshull Street, heard yesterday that Joshua Vinning had watched a football match at his cousin's home on July 7 last year when he saw Clayton and two other men approaching the front door.

The court heard Clayton and Mr Vinning knew each other. Mr Vinning greeted Clayton who responded by punching him in the face said Justin Hayhoe, prosecuting.

Mr Vinning was struck repeatedly in the face by Clayton, the court heard as many as seven blows may have landed.

Mr Vinning fell to the floor and Clayton was “bouncing around” asking “Who’s next?” said Mr Hayhoe.

Mr Vinning was treated in Royal Blackburn Hospital where he was found to have fractures on both sides of his jaw, blood in his mouth and loose teeth. He had two metal plates fitted.

Mr Hayhoe said: “Two weeks after he was still feeling significant pain, unable to eat solid food and left in fear of the defendant.”

In March this year Mr Vinning still had one plate in his jaw and  had lost six teeth.

Defending Hugh Edwards told the court Clayton accepted what he had done was wrong and wished to apologise.

Mr Vinning was unable to work for three months, he had to rely on financial support from his family.

Clayton had pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm at an earlier hearing.

On June 4 last year Clayton had facilitated a loan between David Howcroft and another man described in court only as “the Asian male”.

Mr Howcroft had been in debt to the tune of £10,000, the court heard, and the lender began asking Clayton to collect. Mr Howcroft left the area and Clayton began calling Mr Howcroft’s family to get the money back.

The lender began putting pressure on Clayton the court heard from Mr Edwards and Clayton’s calls to the family became threatening.

Events culminated when Clayton was pushed to drive the lender to the family’s home address where the lender made threats to their car, threatened to burn the house down and alluded to kidnapping.

The court heard that Clayton did not take part in these threats.

Mr Edwards told the court Clayton had been in the armed forces between 2011 and 2016 and was discharged due to an injury.

Mr Edwards said: “He has very good support around him. It’s hoped with that support Clayton can arrest this brief period of offending and continue in the way he was doing.”

Judge Mark Savill sentenced Clayton to a total of 18 months for the two offences.

He said: “This was a brutal attack on this man, it’s caused life changing injuries. For this reason this sentence has to be one of immediate imprisonment.”

Clayton is also subject to two restraining orders.