AN attacker who downed ten pints before an unprovoked assault at a social club dodged prison after it took more than a year to get the case to court.

Judge Simon Phillips, QC, described the delay "unsatisfactory and unacceptable" as he dealt with Michael McRoy, 38, at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday.

The court heard how a simmering family feud over a dog biting a child led to the one-punch attack which left the victim with a broken jaw 15 months ago.

McRoy, of Sedgemoor Road, Eston, near Middlesbrough, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm, and was given a 15-month suspended jail sentence.

Judge Phillips also imposed an indefinite restraining order to keep him away from his victim and his wife, and ordered him to do 35 days' rehabilitation activity.

Prosecutor Jenny Haigh told the court that the injured man needed surgery to put a metal plate in his jaw, and the blow made eating “unbearable”.

He also had stitches to his mouth and three teeth removed, and said in an impact statement that the Sunday night attack severely affected his quality of life.

Miss Haigh told Judge Philips that he was on painkillers for six to seven weeks, and struggled to speak, and was sacked because of taking time off and lost income for more than three months before regaining his job.

Andrew Coleman, mitigating, said McRoy "regrets entirely" the "inexcusable" behaviour as the victim walked towards the bar at the Eston Institute.

Mr Coleman added McRoy was going through a difficult time - his 23-year relationship with his wife had broken down, he lost his job, and suffered severe depression.

Judge Phillips said: “This was undeniably an unprovoked attack. The court has heard that there had been a history of discord between the two of you.”