A MAN was jailed for nine months after he punched his friend and smashed his cheekbone in three places.

Victim John Ralphson suffered three fractures to his cheekbone and had to undergo an operation after Lee Lingard hit him once in the face.

But he suffered nerve damage and still has numbness on one side of his nose and doctors cannot tell whether the nerve will recover.

Lingard, aged 33, of St Germain Street, Farnworth, appeared at Bolton Crown Court for sentence.

He had earlier admitted wounding John Ralphson in an incident on December 6 last year at his victim's home.

When police arrested Lingard, he admitted being involved and said he hit him once but could not remember exactly where.

The court heard that Lingard had 21 convictions for a total of 40 offences, including violence, dishonesty and criminal damage.

Defending, Geoff Samuels said that something had been going on between the two men that day and when Ralphson, who had been drinking, stood up, Lingard thought he was going to be hit and punched him.

Recorder Karen Hughes said it was her public duty to impose a custodial sentence.