A MAN who broke a woman's jaw as she tried to protect her friend during a York pub brawl was today beginning 21 months behind bars.

John Edward Holmes, 29, was a hard-working man with a family to support, his barrister, Taryn Turner, told York Crown Court sitting in Leeds.

But today he is sitting in a prison cell after a drink-fuelled incident involving Mark Stannard and Sharon Friend. They had all been drinking at The Reindeer pub, in The Groves, York, when the violence broke out on March 14 last year.

At an earlier hearing, the court heard how Holmes had become involved in a fight with the two victims after drinking seven pints of lager, but the exact details of his actions were disputed.

The Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman, said: "I give you credit for your previous good character and your hard-working nature.

"You have got yourself drunk, and I am prepared to accept that you acted out of character - but at the end of the evening Stannard had a broken nose.

"You assaulted him with your feet while he was on the ground. When Friend intervened to try to protect him, you broke her jaw."

Holmes, of Lilling Avenue, York, pleaded guilty to two offences of actual bodily harm, but had denied various details of his crimes.

At a special hearing last year, the judge heard evidence and decided the full extent of his violence.

He then bailed him over Christmas with the warning that on his return he would be jailed.

Mark McKone, prosecuting, said Holmes also had one previous conviction for assault.

Mrs Turner said: "He has been extremely anxious about that. He has had a very miserable holiday season with this hanging over him.

"In many respects, this young man has much to commend him. He is very hard working, with a young family to support. He works long hours, demanding a considerable amount of responsibility. He acted in a way that is not typical of him these days. "

Updated: 11:50 Saturday, January 15, 2005