Attacker, 26, facing prison

An Exmouth man faces a spell behind bars after being convicted of a savage attack in which he fractured a man s jaw. At Exeter Crown Court, 26-year-old Christopher Reeves was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to Max Newing. Reeves, of St Andrew

An Exmouth man faces a spell behind bars after being convicted of a savage attack in which he fractured a man's jaw.

At Exeter Crown Court, 26-year-old Christopher Reeves was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to Max Newing.

Reeves, of St Andrews Road, Exmouth, was told by Recorder Stephen Parish: "You are likely to face an immediate custodial sentence, having been convicted of this offence."

Prosecutor Gareth Evans had told the court how Reeves kicked Mr Newing in the face, after the victim asked one of the defendant's drunken friends to stop swinging on his garage door, in Manchester Street, at 11pm on June 17, 2007.

The gang swore at Mr Newing, then a man approached him, throwing the contents of a glass at him and then the glass itself, which missed its target.

"Another of the group charged into Mr Newing, pushing him against the car," said Mr Evans.

He said Mr Newing did not recognise one of the men, but recognised the defendant as a former fellow pupil at Exmouth Community College.

Mr Newing suffered a broken jaw and cheekbone and later developed blurred vision from a piece of bone floating in his eye cavity.

Having recognised Reeves at the scene, he also picked him out in a video identity parade.

Reeves said he had visited the Exmouth Snooker Club, in Manchester Street, with relatives and friends and had left around 10.45pm to walk to The Heavitree pub.

He told the jury he had not been near the scene and said his arrest was a case of mistaken identity.

Reeves will be sentenced on a date to be fixed after a pre-sentence report has been prepared.