NICHOLAS Roberts, 31, fractured the nose of a man who taunted him with provocative insults about his family a court heard.

Roberts, of Field View, Chippenham, appeared at Chippenham Magistrates Court on Thursday for sentencing, after pleading guilty to causing actual bodily harm earlier this month.

Magistrates told him £1,000 was the starting point for compensation for a broken nose, but because of the level of provocation he endured, they ordered him to pay only £150.

Nicky Wootton, prosecuting, said Roberts had a drink in the Borough Arms, in Gladstone Road, with a friend, but as he left the pub he heard Simon Gingell, who was known to him, calling to him. The pair started to talk but then Roberts punched Gingell on the nose knocking him unconscious. The court heard that was the last the victim remembered until he woke in the Royal United Hospital, in Bath.

Roberts admitted to police he had hit Gingell after he made a remark about his partner.

Andrew Watts-Jones, defending, said: "Some days before the incident Gingell taunted insults at Roberts, his partner and her niece, 17, in the presence of two young children from the family aged three and eight."

He said the insults were of a sexual nature, but Roberts did not take any action because he did not feel it was appropriate in front of the children, but he let the incident fester in his mind.

Mr Watts-Jones said Roberts saw Gingell in the pub and left the premises to distance himself, but when Gingell spoke he decided to confront him about the comments he made about his partner. He did not, however, intend to hit him.

As Gingell approached Roberts he handed his mobile telephone to a friend who was with him.

"This suggests the victim was intending to provoke a further confrontation," Mr Watts-Jones said.

"Instead of saying sorry, which would have been an end to the matter, he repeated the unpleasant things he had said a few days earlier."

He said at that point Roberts punched the victim.

He then squared up to Gingell's friend and asked if he 'wanted some of the same'.

He replied no and Roberts walked away towards Timber Street.

Mr Watts-Jones said: "This is a matter which was entirely provoked by the person who ended up getting injured.

"I would ask the court to mark the high level of provocation when awarding compensation."

Roberts was given an 18-month community rehabilitation order and was ordered to pay £50 court costs.