A YOUNG father has narrowly escaped an immediate custodial sentence for punching a man in the face fracturing his cheekbone and eye socket.

Jordan York knocked Liam Clarke to the ground with a single blow at a car valeting business in Skipton in a dispute about money, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

York, 20, of The Shroggs, Steeton, pleaded guilty on the day he was to stand trial to causing Mr Clarke grievous bodily harm. A second charge of beating him three days earlier was dropped by the Crown.

Prosecutor Stephen Wood said York had no previous convictions but he had cautions for theft and battery.

Mr Wood told the court York maintained that Mr Clarke owed him more than £300 for work he had carried out for him.

York sent text messages to Mr Clarke and his former wife, including one on May 12 last year suggesting "a different way" of collecting the "brass" if it was not sorted out.

On May 21, York sought out Mr Clark at the car valeting business. He shouted at him, accusing him of being "a snitch" and struck him in the face with his fist.

Mr Wood told the court: "The blow was heavy and forced Mr Clarke backwards. He felt immediate pain to the left eye and cheekbone area."

Mr Clarke was treated in hospital for a depressed fracture of the left cheekbone, together with fractures of the walls of the maxillary sinus and orbital wall.

He said he also suffered two broken teeth but there was no medical evidence about that, Mr Wood said.

York handed himself into the police on May 22.

The court heard in mitigation that his baby son was poorly and had needed hospital treatment.

York was very remorseful and had the offer of a job.

Judge Mark Savill sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, with 200 hours of unpaid work.

He must pay Mr Clarke £1,000 compensation in the next two months and carry out a rehabilitation activity requirement with the probation service.

Judge Savill told York: "You have seriously injured somebody for no good reason."