A row in a pub about football ended up with a 'retaliation' attack because the victim 'needed a good kicking', a court was told.
Garry McCallum, 35, was punched by the 38-year-old man in the Friendship Inn in Fallowfield.
Manchester Crown Court was told by prosecutors that at some stage pair had 'something of an argument, something about football'.
About five minutes after the man left, at about 11.30pm on May 25 last year, McCallum saw him sat at a bus stop. He had his legs crossed while sat on the bench.
The next thing he remembered was lying on his back and feeling an 'intense' pain from his leg.
McCallum later admitted he had left the pub and punched the man, claiming he 'needed a good kicking'.
He told police that he had been 'one bombed' by the man, meaning he was struck once. There had also been a row about 'business interests', the defendant said.
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McCallum said he had decided to attack the man because he was more 'vulnerable' as he was sitting down.
He also admitted to punching him two or three more times on the floor, as well as putting his hands around his throat and choking him.
At some stage while McCallum attacked him, perhaps due to how the man was sitting, the court heard, he sustained the broken leg.
The court heard that McCallum felt that he had 'stuck up for himself'.
At hospital it was found that the man had suffered fractures to his tibia and fibula, which needed surgery.
There was bone exiting through the skin of his leg, the court heard. He had also suffered a minor head injury.
McCallum was arrested after a witness helped trace a car he left the pub in following the attack.
The victim was unable to work after being attacked, and five months after was still having to walk with a stick.
Defending, Paul Bryning said McCallum was 'shocked' and 'apologetic' when he found out the seriousness of his victim's injuries.
Mr Bryning said the attack was a 'one off out of character incident', and that McCallum has 'turned his life around' in the past few years.
He works as a delivery driver, and also volunteers to help vulnerable people at large events.
Sentencing, Judge David Stockdale QC said he could spare McCallum jail because there was an element of provocation, he is now remorseful and didn't mean to cause the eventual injury.
The judge told him: "This was an act of retaliation. You didn't intent to cause serious injury.
"That was a chance outcome of your assault upon him."
McCallum, of Stretford Road, Trafford, pleaded guilty to one count of causing grievous bodily harm.
He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, and must complete 120 hours of unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation activity days.
