A MAN who had his jaw broken in three places cannot feel anything when he kisses his wife and children, a court was told.

Robert Wood has no sensation in his lips and part of his jaw after he was punched twice in the face by a relative, Stuart Walker.

The blows were so heavy that Mr Wood's jaw was broken in three places and he spent two days in hospital and 25 days off work. He had to have wires to support his teeth and steel plates inserted into his jaw following the unprovoked attack at a family party.

Mr Wood is still unable to feel anything in parts of his jaw, and his lips are numb, leaving him with no sensation when he kisses his wife or his children, Bolton Crown Court was told.

Walker, aged 33, of Tottington Road, Harwood, escaped being sent to jail for the assault when he pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Wood.

Recorder Geoffrey Lowe said Walker's previous good character, his remorse and his victim's forgiveness, had saved him from a prison sentence.

But he ordered Walker to pay £3,000 compensation to Mr Wood, £200 court costs and £500 towards his defence costs. He also sentenced him to carry out a Community Punishment Order for the maximum amount of 240 hours.

Prosecutor Jeremy Lasker said Walker and Mr Wood were at a family party at a relative's house to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee.

Mr Wood later told police that Walker had obviously been drinking all day and, after a short exchange, attacked him.

Walker lunged towards Mr Wood and punched him twice in the face, leaving him shocked and feeling sick. Walker was thrown out and Mr Wood was taken to hospital where he had to have two days of treatment.

The court was told that Mr Wood had written a letter forgiving Walker. Thomas Fitzpatrick, defending, said Walker was full of remorse and wanted to tell his victim he was sorry. It had been a moment of extreme madness and he had regretted his actions.

He was kept in hospital for two days and underwent an operation to insert steel plates in his jaw and wires to keep his teeth in place.

Even now Wood does not have full feeling back in parts of his jaw and lips and cannot feel anything when he kisses his family.

The court heard that Wood was off work for 15 days full time and 10 days part-time but had written a letter to the court expressing his forgiveness.