A MAN has been jailed after injuring two people during two drink-fuelled attacks at a wake.

Lee Bevin, of no fixed address, left one of his victims with a fractured jaw on both sides and another with a scar near his eye after subjecting them to a series of kicks while on the floor.

The 30-year-old acted ‘in the heat of the moment’ during the first incident, his barrister told Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, and felt ‘under threat’ during the second.

But this did not stop the judge from imposing an immediate prison sentence for ‘dangerously’ attacking two ‘vulnerable’ men.

Relaying the facts of the case, Sarah Holt, prosecuting, told the court how the wake took place at The Jolly Falstaff pub in Padgate on February 5, 2019.

CCTV footage showed the defendant chatting on wooden decking area before being approached by the first complainant, Bradley Stockton.

Mr Stockton approached Bevin with an outstretched arm and open palm, but was met with a punch that sent both men to the wet floor.

Bevin regained his feet first and delivered four kicks to the face and head of his victim.

Warrington Guardian:

The incident took place at The Jolly Falstaff pub in Padgate (Image: Google Maps)

A further argument then developed in the pub car park, where the defendant was seen and heard calling a female present a ‘stupid cow’.

The second complainant, Declan Carty, tried to calm the situation down, but was knocked to the floor by Bevin, who was described as being ‘quite drunk’.

Again, the defendant delivered two to three kicks to the face of his victim, leaving him with a scar, before being chased around the car park by a number of males and arrested by police in a nearby alleyway.

Bevin was subsequently charged and pleaded guilty to causing grievous and actual bodily harm.

Mr Stockton visited hospital due to the pain in his jaw and was told that it was fractured on both sides.

An operation was carried out the following day, which included the removal of three teeth and installation of three screws to hold the jaw in place.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Stockton said that his injuries have caused him to speak with a lisp and that he is still nervous when in crowded areas.

Ms Holt also revealed that Bevin has a number of previous convictions, including for battery, possession of an offensive weapon and robbery.

READ> Nursing home in special measures following ‘inadequate’ rating

The most recent conviction saw the defendant jailed for two weeks by Warrington Magistrates’ Court last month after burgling a guest’s room at the Paddington House Hotel in February.

In defence of Bevin, Michael Davies told the court how the defendant had been ‘startled’ by his first victim and acted ‘in the heat of the moment’.

He said: “The defendant saw the person coming towards him and thought he was being attacked.

“He bitterly regrets the way that he reacted.”

Mr Davies also spoke of how his client was upset at the time as his work as a scaffolder had dried up, money was tight, and he was experiencing the breakdown of his relationship.

Before sentencing, Judge Stuart Driver said: “You kicked both men when they were vulnerable and on the ground, which is a very dangerous thing to do.

“The offences are made significantly worse by your bad criminal record.”

Bevin, who appeared in court via video link from HMP Altcourse, was sentenced to 20 months in prison.