THE drunken son of a retired senior police officer broke a teenager's eye socket and cheekbone with one punch, leaving him at permanent risk of death.

William Worthington admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm (section 20) during the attack in Worcester, his third recorded serious assault. The 26-year-old of Woodward Parks, Fladbury, was due to face trial but pleaded guilty on Monday after viewing CCTV footage which showed the attack next to the Halifax cash point/taxi rank in St Swithin's Street and the build-up in Mealcheapen Street in the early hours of April 2 last year. The CCTV shows Worthington and his partner, Charlotte Francis, arguing with three males in Mealcheapen Street at around 1.55am.

One of the males, not the victim, can be seen running at Worthington who threw punches and bounced on the balls of his feet 'like a boxer', as described by the judge. His partner can also be seen kicking a male.

Worthington walked away and he and his partner got into a taxi. Further words were exchanged, this time with the victim James Price. Separate CCTV footage shows the aftermath of the punch, delivered as Mr Price, then aged 18, backed away from the taxi. The blow knocked him to the ground. He climbed to his feet holding his eye.

Rachel Pennington, prosecuting, said: "He has been warned if he gets a knock again it could be fatal."

In a victim impact statement Mr Price said he suffered numbness down one side of his face which was painful to sleep on and felt he was 'looking over his shoulder'.

He suffers frequent nose bleeds and anxiety. Because the fracture was not displaced it did not require surgical intervention.

Worthington has two previous convictions for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, committed on August 20, 2013 and November 16, 2013. The first attack in Worcester left a man with a split lip requiring six stitches. The second, in Liverpool, committed against a friend, required seven stitches and fractured the nasal cartilage. The blow also caused a septal haematoma which resulted in an operation to remove a blood clot.

Worthington told a probation officer he was 'seven out of 10' on a scale of drunkenness at the time of the attack on Mr Price. The officer said a custodial sentence would be 'potentially ruinous' for the defendant and County Cladding Systems in Evesham where Worthington works as a team manager.

Kate Hatton, defending, said Worthington's basis of plea was that he was subjected to 'extreme provocation', Mr Price entering the taxi and screaming at the defendant's partner. "He has not actively gone seeking trouble. He's extremely remorseful for what happened. His father is a retired inspector of police. His mother works still with the police force at Hindlip" she said.

Judge Nicholas Cole sentenced him to 15 months in prison suspended for two years. He must complete 27 sessions of the Resolve programme, 20 rehabilitation activity days and will be placed on an electronically monitored curfew daily between 9am and 6pm for five months. Worthington must also pay £1,500 compensation to the victim.

James Price, speaking after the hearing, said: "Ultimately he has been convicted of a very serious crime. We are slightly disappointed he did not get a custodial sentence but hopefully he has learned his lesson."