A man who struck another man over the head with a metal bar while on bail for punching a woman while drunk on Christmas Day, has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Ryan Marshall, 26, of Courtyard, Bank Top, Bradford, had been drinking with friends and family on Christmas Day 2008, when he began arguing with his partner, Bradford Crown Court was told yesterday.

Another woman, Samantha Ramsden, tried to intervene, after which Marshall left the house, before returning and punching her in the face, which left her eye and nose bruised and swollen. She fell to the floor and three of her teeth were loosened.

Prosecutor David McGonigal said: “A large amount of alcohol was drunk by everyone present.”

While on bail accused of causing actual bodily harm to Miss Ramsden, Marshall attacked another man in the street on June 24 last year believing him to have been badmouthing him to his cousin.

Kevin Stephenson had spoken to Marshall’s cousin earlier in the day but denied having said anything derogatory. The defendant went to confront him, and punched him, without warning, in the eye, Mr McGonigal told the court.

After a brief struggle Marshall struck Mr Stephenson on the head with an iron bar, which had been on the ground.

Sentencing Marshall for the Christmas Day assault and for wounding Mr Stephenson with intent, the judge, Recorder Dean Kershaw, told the defendant he had a terrible record for drink-fuelled violence, with convictions dating back to 2003.

He said Marshall had been ostracised in his community and should be thoroughly ashamed of himself.

The judge branded Marshall “a drunken bully” whose modus operandi was punching people in the face.

“You and alcohol are a very, very bad mixture,” he said.

Alan Taylor, for Marshall, told the court he had made efforts to curtail his drinking.