A SHOPKEEPER who was hailed a hero by police for catching robbers punched a customer and broke his jaw, a court heard

Nimesh Modhvadia got into an argument with Mark Stewart, who came into his Bury Road convenience store wanting to buy a single cigarette.

Bolton Crown Court heard how a row developed when 22-year-old Modhvadia refused Mr Stewart's request and the customer, who had been drinking, became aggressive.

Wayne Jackson, prosecuting, told how Modhvadia pushed Mr Stewart out of the Best One shop into the street and followed him a short distance before punching him in the face.

The blow sent Mr Stewart tumbling into the road. In hospital doctors found his jaw was broken in two places and he needed surgery to insert metal plates.

Mr Jackson said the incident began at 2pm on June 6 last year when Mr Stewart bought a single cigarette from the shop for 50p.

He returned later, asking to buy a second second cigarette but was refused.

"He became agitated and asked for a fight outside the store," said Mr Jackson, adding that Modhvadia later told police that Mr Stewart had threatened to stab him or bite his ear.

Mr Stewart's injury was caused by a single "unlucky blow" said Daniel Prowse, defending.

He added that the assault was out of character for the shopkeeper, who he said had received a Chief Constable's commendation for bravery in 2011 after chasing and catching a robber who had raided a neighbouring shop.

He said Modhvadia had previously been a victim of assault himself and the day before hitting Mr Stewart his shop had been burgled.

Modhvadia, of Windyhill Drive, Bolton, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 12 months and ordered to do 120 hours unpaid work.

He was also told he must take part in a course to help him find peaceful solutions to problems, pay his victim £500 compensation and a further £400 towards prosecution costs.

Judge Elliot Knopf said he bore in mind that Modhvadia had been subject to violence himself in the past and that Mr Stewart, who had been drinking, had provoked him into "foolishly" accepting a challenge to fight.

"It was the victim who upped the ante," Judge Knopf told Modhvadia.

"It was open to you to have acted sensibly and refuse the provocation."