WHEN footballer Keenan Bradbury punched a man on the side of the face, the blow caused a hole to appear in his cheek through which the victim could see his tongue.

Bradbury’s victim was punched with such devastating effect, Judge Roger Hetherington, sitting at the Isle of Wight Crown Court, said he was sure the wound could not have been caused by a fist alone.

Sentencing Bradbury to a 12-month jail term, suspended for 24 months, he said: “I don’t think a knuckle duster or ring could have done it. I am satisfied you had something in your hand. Some kind of weapon.”

Bradbury, 22, of School Lane, Newport, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and a further offence of burglary.

The assault happened in Newport in October last year when the victim was out with his pregnant girlfriend.

Bradbury, who had been drinking, ran past the victim and punched him in the face. The attack was not reported to the police at the time.

The court heard it was sheer coincidence Bradbury came into contact with the family again on February 15 this year.

At around midnight, police received a 999 call from a woman saying her husband had gone to a shed to investigate a noise and found Bradbury crouched inside.

When the woman told her daughter about the incident, she recognised his name as the man who had assaulted her husband in Newport. The court was told Bradbury had 13 convictions for 23 offences.

For Bradbury, Oscar Vincent said his client, who played for a team in Newport, had almost stopped drinking.

He added there had been some degree of provocation from Bradbury’s victim.

Bradbury was also given a four-month curfew.