AN EAST Cowes father who punched a woman so hard she felt 'disfigured' and had to undergo facial surgery has narrowly avoided a jail term.

Matthew Woods, 28, of Beatrice Avenue, appeared before the Isle of Wight Crown Court on Tuesday (27), charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and assault by beating.

The court heard from prosecutor, Roderick Blain, how on November 9, Woods had been kicked out of the Hogshead in Newport for being too drunk.

Loitering outside, Woods verbally abused a doorman, and elbowed him in the head.

A short while later, the victim ­— a 19-year-old woman ­— had been removed from the public house, and five minutes later she was joined by a friend.

Mr Blain told the court Woods returned to the door, first to engage with the friend, and then the victim.

When the victim shoved him away, he came back, and was slapped by the victim after she was pulled away by a doorman.

Woods delivered a single blow to the victim, the bench was told, swinging around her friend who had been standing in the way.

The victim fell to the pavement, unconscious, and was taken to hospital with a laceration to her right eye and severe swelling.

After nausea and vomiting the following morning, scans showed a fracture to her eye socket which required surgery.

In a statement read out to the court, the victim described how ugly, vulnerable and insecure she felt following the assault.

She wrote of how there was a notable droop in her eye, and how she suffered debilitating migraines and could feel the metal plate in her face.

Laura Deuxberry, defending, said Woods had been provoked and punched the victim only once, though conceded the force used was disproportionate.

She said that since the incident, Woods had stopped going out and felt uncomfortable about drinking.

The court heard Woods had been appalled by his own behaviour.

Ms Deuxberry said Woods had ongoing domestic issues, which had been bubbling under the surface for some time.

Recorder Simon Levene said while there was a degree of provocation, any sensible, sober man would have walked away.

He said Woods had delivered a massive punch which left the victim feeling disfigured, and argued his behaviour was more akin to revenge than self-defence.

But it was a letter written by his landlady ­— a second mother to Woods ­— that tipped the scales.

Woods, who had been offending since he was 16, was given an 18-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years.

He must attend a resolve programme, and complete 180 hours of unpaid work.

He was also given a six-month curfew to remain indoors between 9pm and 6am.