A former Wigan RL player has been jailed after breaking a man's jaw in a late-night brawl.
Prop Ben Kavanagh, 20, who was a member of the Wigan first team squad , admitted assaulting and causing grievous bodily harm to Joel Holt on March 28.
Kavanagh, of Dunce Park Close, Elland, was sentenced to eight months at a young offenders' insti
tute.
Louise Azmi, prosecuting, told Bradford Crown Court the attack took place outside a takeaway in Halifax town centre.
Mr Holt was with friends and saw Kavanagh, his girlfriend Megan Crossley and a 16-year old who cannot be named, she said.
Miss Crossley and another member of the party had an argument and she slapped the man before falling to the floor.
Mr Holt tried to calm things down but was attacked by Kavanagh. Mr Holt fell to the floor and tried to get up, but was given an uppercut to his jaw by Kavanagh.
His jaw was broken in two places, and he had to have a wisdom tooth removed and a titanium plate fitted to his jaw, Mrs Azmi said.
William Anthony Swalwell, defending, said: "His girlfriend lost her self-control and he was just trying to calm her down.
"He certainly believes she was pushed to the ground by another person, which is why he reacted. He was fearful over what would happen to her.
"These actions are out of character and he has never done anything like this before.
"He is devastated by what he has done and understands the seriousness of it."
Judge Stephen Gullick, recorder of Bradford, said it was a serious violent attack in a public place late at night and it could not go unpunished.
The full article contains 291 words and appears in Wigan Evening Post newspaper.
