A Romanian migrant with seven children who fractured a man’s jaw with a single punch has been sentenced to a 12 month community order. Fanal Ciriblan knocked his victim to the ground when he smacked him in the face in Kendal, Cumbria, on May 30, 2023.

South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court heard Ciriblan had been confronted by the victim and their employer who claimed he had sold them a fake mobile phone. The pair tried to detain Ciriblan until the police showed up, but he ran off, later returning and smacking the victim in the face.

Lee Dacre, prosecuting, said: “He punched the victim to the face with so much force he fell to the ground.”

Mr Dacre told the court that Ciriblan fractured the victim’s jaw and he was taken to hospital.

Ciriblan pleaded not guilty and claimed he acted in self-defence, but he was convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent.

Raj Chopra, defending Ciriblan, said his client had come to the UK for a “good life”.

Mr Chopra said his client has settled in the UK and works “very hard” as a cleaner to support his family.

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The court heard three of Ciriblan’s children live with and depend on him along with his wife who does not speak English.

He added church-goer Ciriblan regretted what happened that day, felt remorse, but still claimed he acted in self-defence.

Mr Chopra said probation assessed him as being a low risk and posed no danger to the public.

The solicitor described what happened as a one-off incident and told the court his client had no previous convictions, does not take drugs, drink alcohol or have mental health issues, The Westmorland Gazette reports.

Mr Chopra said: “A compensation order would cause exceptional hardship for his family.”

Ciriblan was sentenced to a 12-month community order to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work. He was ordered to pay the victim £2,500 in compensation, which the court was told could be paid in instalments of of £100 per month.