Anthony Jack Carver (22) punched his victim during a disturbance in Koko nightclub on the Esplanade, breaking his jaw and damaging several teeth.
The Royal Court was told that Carver had drunk more than two litres of cider as well as a double sambuca and lemonade before he assaulted the man in the early hours of 16 November.
The assault happened after words were exchanged between the two at close range, which resulted in 5 ft 4 in Carver pushing the ‘significantly’ taller man back while trying to step away from a potential confrontation.
However, Carver then ‘struck out instinctively’ and punched the man once, Crown Advocate David Hopwood told the court.
His victim, who had also been drinking, later told police: ‘I felt a massive smack in the head. My head just flew back. When I got to the bathroom my mouth looked a mess and was all bloody.’
The following day the man went to the Accident and Emergency Department at the hospital where he was examined and found to have four loose front teeth, a chipped top tooth and a cut below his lip.
He later told a police surgeon that he had been unable to eat due to the pain and had been forced to drink soup through a straw, the court heard.
The following day the victim was examined by his dentist who noted he had displaced lower teeth, ten chipped teeth and two broken ones. He was referred to the oral surgery clinic at the Hospital with a fractured jaw and for root canal treatment.
His total bill for dental work has so far amounted to £1,330 and it is expected he will need a further £700 worth of work, Crown Advocate Hopwood told the court.
Carver later admitted a charge of grave and criminal assault.
Advocate Sarah Dale, defending, said her client did not want to get involved but felt threatened. She disputed whether the amount of dental work required was solely as a result of the punch.
The advocate added that Carver, a first-time offender, had been described in reference letters as a ‘very passive individual’ and that the assault was ‘completely out of character’.
Commissioner Julian Clyde-Smith, who was sitting with Jurats Geoffrey Fisher and Jeremy Ramsden, agreed with the Crown’s recommendation that he should carry out 180 hours’ community service. He also has to pay compensation to his victim and stay away from licensed premises for 12 months.
Commissioner Clyde-Smith told Carver: ‘This was a serious assault which caused the victim to have painful injuries.’
