A STUDENT was left with a broken jaw in two places when he tried to break up a late-night city centre punch-up.

Andrew Jones, 18, needed surgery and had three metal plates inserted in his face to hold his bones together after the sickening blow from Thomas Leonard.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that the punch left the teenager distraught and caused him to fail his A-level exams.

Mr Jones and 15 of his friends had enjoyed a night out in Sunderland city centre on January 5.

They had arranged to be picked up at 2.30am by minibus, but when their taxi was late, they took shelter in Park Lane Metro Station.

As they waited, they were approached by a drunken Leonard, 23, and 23-year-old banker Dale Tipping, who knew one of the group.

Amanda Rippon, prosecuting, told the court how Leonard, who had drunk about 15 pints of lager, became hostile and told the group he wanted a fight.

He picked a fight with one of the group, and Andrew Jones stepped in. But Leonard turned on him.

Tipping joined in the violence, and head-butted one of the group as his friend lashed out at others.

The brawl was broken up when police arrived. Tipping and Leonard were picked up by police a short time later.

Leonard, of the Turnbull Building, and Tipping, of Douglas Court, Panns Bank, Sunderland, escaped jail yesterday after they pleaded guilty to affray.

Judge John Lodge sentenced Leonard to 240 hours' community punishment and ordered him to pay £2,400 compensation to his victim.

Tipping was given a 120-hour community punishment order and ordered to pay £225 costs.