A former boxer has been jailed for attacking a pub landlord and breaking his cheekbone.

Seth Fowler had been escorted from his local in Harwich after complaints about his behaviour when he punched landlord Jamie Shrive in the face.

The blow fractured his cheekbone and also caused two fractures to Mr Shrive's eye socket.

Fowler, 30, of Church Street, Harwich, was jailed for 21 months when he admitted a charge of wounding.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard Fowler went into the Stingray pub in the town on January 31 and appeared upset during a call he made on the public telephone and slammed the receiver down.

Following complaints, Mr Shrive asked him to leave and said he could come back the next day and Fowler left the pub.

Outside, Mr Shrive prevented Fowler from going back in, but when he let a couple past, Fowler tried to push his way in before he hit Mr Shrive, the court heard.

David Cousins, mitigating, said alcohol was at the root of Fowler's offending.

Judge David Goodin told Fowler it had been a vicious, unprovoked attack and there was no option other than a prison sentence.

Published Wednesday July 28, 2004

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