A dad broke a man's jaw in the smoking area of a bar after seeing him talking to his partner. Ryan Toby ‘saw red’ at Sky Bar in Bury.
CCTV played at Minshull Street Crown Court showed Toby, 36, approach his victim from behind in the early hours of October 3, 2021 and punch him in the side of the face. The man was knocked unconscious and fell to the ground.
He also suffered a cut to the back of his head, but when he came back around, he refused medical help at the scene, the court heard. After heading home and going to sleep, he woke up in 'considerable pain' and went to hospital, where he was told that his jaw had been fractured.
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The victim received a Facebook message from 'Toby’s Decorators', the page for Toby’s painting and decorating business. The content of the message was not revealed in court.
The man's jaw eventually required surgery, the court heard, but doctors believe he will make a full recovery. In a victim statement, the man described the attack as 'completely unprovoked' and said he was off work for a number of months following the incident. He said he 'could have been killed'.
"Nobody has the right to assault me for no reason," he added.
Toby, of Coniston Drive, Redvales, Bury, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm without intent. Defending, Chloe Fordham, asked Judge Angela Nield to suspend any prison sentence.
She said: "The defendant’s partner and he were having a difficult time. She had been out a month or so earlier and had been sending the defendant messages, trying to make him jealous, saying she would sleep with [the victim].
"They had made up, but at this time there was another falling out, she had gone out, telling the defendant she was with someone else in Bury. He was also out in Bury.
"When he went looking for her, he saw them about to put arms around each other and in short saw red. He had had a couple of drinks and wasn’t expecting to see this man or the scene and reacted extremely badly and unforgivably."
Ms Fordham told the court Toby is a father and owns his own painting and decorating business, which employs a number of staff. She added that his partner 'stands by him'.
"He improves young people’s prospects by training them up," Ms Fordham said of the business.
"This man has a real prospect of being a useful member of society. He has let himself down very significantly here, he understands this and is very frightened by what he has done."
Judge Nield sentenced Toby to eight months, suspended for 18 months. She also ordered him to pay the victim £2,500 in compensation.
"With a single punch you caused significant injury to the complainant in this case." Judge Nield said. "A man who you believed to be involved in some way with your partner and clearly upon observing him apparently showing a form of affection to her, you took action by striking a single swift blow, a blow which appeared to catch the complainant unsighted and he in turn was knocked unconscious.
"It’s fortunate for him and even more for you that it is anticipated that he will make a full recovery from this no doubt painful experience, it has understandably disrupted not only his personal wellbeing and security but also his ability to work and earn a wage over the relevant period."
Under the terms of his suspended sentence, Toby will also have to complete 180 hours unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
