A religious preacher and his friend have been jailed for their involvement in an attack that left a victim with a fractured jaw.

The incident happened in front of a six-year-old boy, Leicester Crown Court was told.

Mohammed Patel was said to be in a dispute with the victim over £320 paid for a second-hand mobile phone he no longer wanted.

Patel wanted his money back and left the victim a message saying if the money was not sorted out: "It won't be good for your health."

Patel, a preacher at a mosque and a voluntary teacher, recruited help from Mohammed Taher and an unknown male, to act as "muscle" when they went to the victim's workplace in Leicester.

The complainant was not there, but his boss, who had his six-year-old son with him, summoned him to the office to sort the matter out.

The victim arrived and explained the money was not immediately available and Patel would have to wait several days. At that point, the unknown male punched the victim in the face.

Taher grabbed hold of the victim's arms and, while being held, the unknown man, delivered another punch, fracturing his jaw.

The violence was witnessed by the six-year-old boy. The shocked boss tried to intervene and ended up paying the £320.

The injured man went to hospital and had an operation to have a plate inserted in his jaw.

Patel and Taher were both sentenced to 30 months imprisonment yesterday.

The pair were convicted by a jury at a recent trial of inflicting grievous bodily harm in April 2010.

Patel (35), of Braybrooke Road, Northfields, Leicester, and Taher (43), of Kimberley Road, in the city, both denied the offence.

During the trial, the victim told the court he bought an iPhone for about £70 at a car boot sale and sold it on to his brother for £100.

His brother had then sold it privately to Patel for £320.

Patel changed his mind later, but pursued the victim, instead of his brother, for the return of the money.

Sentencing, Judge Sylvia De Bertodano said: "One can only imagine the effect this assault would have had on the six-year-old child."

Sarah-Jane Varley, mitigating for Patel, said: "He's a teacher and speaker on religious matters. He's regarded in high esteem. He knows he's let his community down."

Christopher Kessling, for Taher, said: "He still doesn't accept he's committed this offence. He was not the one who delivered the punch."