AN AWARD-winning actor broke another man’s eye socket in a nightclub attack, a court heard.

James Cartwright, who has appeared in a number of TV programmes including Holby City, threw a heavy punch that hit Phillip Mason in the face, Preston Crown Court was told.

He claimed to have acted in self defence, but a jury had convicted him of inflicting grievous bodily harm following a trial.

The 28-year-old of Higher House Lane in Chorley was given 18 months in jail, suspended for a year, with 12 months supervision and ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work.

He was told to pay £2,000 compensation to his victim, plus £2,000 towards prosecution costs.

The offence happened in the Applejax nightspot in Chorley in June last year.

In a victim personal statement, self-employed electrician Mr Mason said he had not been into town since.

Following the violence, he needed to wear a patch for two weeks and when that was removed, he had blurred vision.

CCTV of the violence was played in court during the trial.

Defence barrister Neil Fryman handed in a collection of character references on behalf of his client. He had no previous convictions.

Mr Fryman said Cartwright had been successful in his acting career. He said: “He reached the dizzy heights of the National Theatre, the West End and the Best Actor award by the Royal Television Society.”

The judge, Recorder Andrew Long, told Cartwright as he passed sentence: “I don’t know what possessed you to act in the way you did.

“You launched an attack upon him, punching him very hard in the face for little or no reason.

“You know you put your life, everything you have worked for, in jeopardy.”