A SINGLE blow delivered after a minor night-spot dispute halted the career ambitions of a trainee soldier, a court heard.

Thomas Leighton was not involved in the original altercation between two groups of drinkers at Monty’s, in Stanley, on June 30 last year.

But, as both parties left the Front Street premises, Leighton approached one of the other group, who said he did not want to get involved in a fight.

Leighton responded, however, by throwing a single punch to the other man’s jaw.

Phillip Morley, prosecuting, said the injured man felt intense pain and shock as he walked away.

He was taken to hospital for examination which confirmed he suffered two fractures of the lower jaw, requiring surgery.

Mr Morley said the victim felt initial numbness and swelling, while the injury affected his ability to bite for some time after the incident.

It also prevented him from resuming his Army training as he was unable to re join his regiment due to the injury.

The court was told the injured party has since died for reasons unrelated to the attack.

Mr Morley said following the attack, Leighton was arrested, but made no comment to police questions.

But the 27-year-old defendant, of Northgate, Annfield Plain, admitted causing grievous bodily harm at a magistrates’ court hearing, in June.

Richard Herrmann, mitigating, told the sentencing hearing that despite previous convictions, the defendant was, “a changed man”, and has knuckled down in employment with a construction company, which provided a court reference on his behalf.

Judge Christopher Prince, however, said Leighton had been given a number of opportunities to make changes in his life by way of “a range of sentences” imposed on him, previously, by the courts, but had failed to make use of them by curbing his offending behaviour.

Passing an eight-month prison sentence, Judge Prince told Leighton: “I don’t see a realistic prospect of rehabilitation in your case.”