CINDERFORD man Daniel Hogg landed a 'spectacular punch' on another man while he was on parole from prison for two earlier offences of violence, a court heard.

The 25-year-old, of Sneyd Wood Road, Ruspidge, broke victim Justin Price's eye socket with the heavy blow, Gloucester Crown Court was told.

Hogg has now been recalled to prison to complete his 21-month term while he waits to be sentenced for the attack on Mr Price.

Hogg pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Justin Price on December 17 last year.

Prosecutor Lisa Hennessy said that in the early hours of December 17 Mr Price was out in Cinderford with friends and had just left a pub when he encountered Hogg and two other men in the High Street.

"He had known Hogg for some years and thought he was on reasonable terms with him," said Mrs Hennessy.

"They got into a conversation which appears to have turned into something less friendly. But as far as Mr Price was concerned there was nothing to indicate what was going to happen next.

"Mr Hogg struck Mr Price in his eye. It was quite a spectacular punch which broke his eye socket.

"Mr Price went to the ground and there was further kicking by Mr Hogg. It appears Mr Hogg had clearly got the wrong end of the stick about something in the conversation.

"The assault might well have continued for longer if it had not been for a special constable who was in the area. She ran over and saw the kicking going on. She recognised Mr Hogg as three men ran past her.

"Mr Price was completely unconscious on the ground. His right eye was shut and bleeding.

"He ended up in hospital and had to have quite a complex operation to repair his eye socket.

"He has made a pretty good recovery."

Judge Jamie Tabor QC heard that as a result of the offence Hogg had been recalled to prison to serve out the 21-month sentence he received at the crown court in December 2010.

That had been imposed for breaking a man's jaw in a street confrontation in Cinderford in August 2010 and assaulting another man in King's Square, Gloucester, in December that year.

Judge Tabor agreed on Thursday to order a pre-sentence report on Hogg but said he was not making any promises about the kind of sentence he would impose for the new offence.

Until that point, Hogg had denied the charge and a jury panel had been assembled to try him. Mr Price was at court ready to give evidence.

After Hogg changed his plea to guilty at the last minute the judge called Mr Price into court and asked him how the numbness was in his face as a result of the attack.

Pointing to the area of his right cheek, Mr Price said it was still numb from the side of his nose to the right side of his eye.

Judge Tabor told Hogg he would sentence him in two weeks' time.