A FACEBOOK row over a woman led to a street battle in which a man's face was fractured in two places by a full force kick, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Joshua Ingham attacked Alex Dixon when violence flared outside the Hockney public house in Dale Street, Shipley.

Ingham, 22, of Stubbing Way, Shipley, was today jailed for 18 months for punching Mr Dixon, 27, a greenkeeper, and kicking him in the face as he lay dazed on the ground.

Prosecutor Paul Nicholson said Ingham and James Waltham, 22, followed Mr Dixon out of the pub.

There was a background of Facebook messaging in which Mr Waltham had accused Mr Dixon of involvement with his girlfriend.

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Mr Waltham, of Bingley Road, Saltaire, was accused jointly with Ingham of causing Mr Dixon grievous bodily harm but the charge against him was dropped.

Mr Nicholson said that after studying CCTV evidence in the case, the Crown had decided there was insufficient evidence against him.

A formal verdict of not guilty was given by the judge, Recorder Andrew Dallas, and Mr Waltham walked free from the dock.

The court heard that Ingham had convictions as a youth for affray, possession of an offensive weapon, battery, racially aggravated common assault and breach of a Football Banning Order.

Mr Dixon was assaulted during "a prolonged battle between separate groups" at 8.30pm on March 7 last year.

Ingham punched him in the face and he fell down. He got to his feet but went down again because he was dizzy.

Ingham then delivered "a full force kick" to his face, fracturing his left cheekbone and his jaw. He also suffered as black eye, bruising, abrasions and grazes.

Mr Dixon needed surgery to insert plates and screws into his face. He had lost confidence and was too frightened to go back to the Hockney, the court was told.

Ingham's solicitor advocate, Ashok Khullar, said his client was genuinely remorseful and had not been in trouble since.

He pleaded guilty and was disgusted with himself for causing such a serious injury.

He now realised he had wasted his school years and had a real desire to change his ways.

But Recorder Dallas said the offence was too serious for a suspended prison sentence.

"It was in the street at night. You were well in drink and others were present," he said.