A PUB pool player who punched a woman in the face, breaking her jaw in two places, was yesterday ordered to pay her £5,000 compensation.

Richard Taylor, 30, was told by the Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox, that he had only just escaped being jailed.

Teesside Crown Court heard that drink led him to an angry confrontation with Lisa Hay, 28, while playing pool in The Stockton pub, in the High Street, Boosbeck, east Cleveland.

Taylor threw down his cue and punched her in the face.

The next day he contacted her, offering money for her not to report the attack to the police.

He was arrested after she was treated in hospital for the double fracture of her jaw, said Warren Grier, prosecuting.

After a two-day trial earlier this month, Taylor was convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm in March last year.

Jo Kidd, mitigating, said his wife was now keeping control over his drinking, and he was happy to pay compensation.

Reports said that it was out of character for Taylor, who was described as a good worker and a good family man.

Taylor of Hollybush, Skelton, was given a 12-month jail sentence suspended for two years, with 300 hours' unpaid work, an electronically-tagged curfew for six months, from 8pm to 5am, supervision to control his drinking, and an order to pay the compensation paid at £200 a month.