Man broke pal's jaw in row over birthday meal restaurant bill

THE MEN HAD KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS

- By MARK NAYLOR

A BAD-tempered argument at a restaurant over splitting the bill for a birthday meal suddenly turned violent when a man lost his temper and repeatedly punched his friend of 30 years - breaking his jaw.

Lawrence Tyler angrily lashed out after coming back to the table to find other members of his group arguing about who should pay what. The victim’s face was left covered in blood and he needed an operation as well as further treatment, Hull Crown Court heard.

Tyler, 59, of Windsor Crescent, Bridlington, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on the man on September 27 last year.

Sophie Souflas, prosecuting, said that Tyler and the 66-year-old man had known each other and been friends for about 30 years. Tyler’s son was the partner of the other man’s daughter and they had four children together.

The man went out for a meal on a Friday evening to celebrate his birthday with his wife and friends, including Tyler. There were eight people in the group. They met at 6.30pm at an Indian restaurant in Cliff Street, Bridlington, and they were all drinking.

The meal finished at about 8.30pm and they had earlier agreed to split the bill. “However, one member of the party - the victim's brother - did not want to do this and, after the meal, he wanted to pay for what he had eaten, which was less than the others,” said Miss Souflas.

The man claimed that Tyler's wife was being “loud” and was questioning the bill and the lower amount that the brother had put in. The man admitted that he might have said something along the lines of “Put a sock in it”.