A TEENAGER punched a man with such force he broke his jaw during an unprovoked attack in Darlington town centre.

Magistrates in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, heard how the victim had been left in extreme pain and had spent two days in hospital having metal plates and pins fitted into his jaw.

Yesterday, 19-year-old Richard Brad Sowerby pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent.

Joanne Hesse, prosecuting, said the victim had been out with friends in Darlington on February 27 when he became separated from the group. At about 3am, he started to chat to a man he knew from football who was with an unknown male, Sowerby.

Ms Hesse said Sowerby, of Lunesdale Road, Darlington, had shouted, sworn and become increasingly aggressive towards the victim, who eventually told him to '****' off.

“The defendant said if he told him to **** off one more time he would punch him,” said Ms Hesse.

“The victim didn’t want a fight, he just wanted to talk to his friend. The next thing Sowerby punched the left side of his face and then punched him again to the same area. The victim tried to swing a punch in self-defence but missed. He then walked away, feeling shocked.”

The victim was taken to hospital where an x-ray revealed a small fracture on the left side of his jaw and a clean break to the right.

In a statement read out in court, he said he had been forced to take a month off work unpaid and was in great pain.

“I now worry about going out in town,” he said. “I thought it was a safe place but now I really don’t know.”

Sonny Lawson, mitigating, said Sowerby, who works in IT and has no previous convictions, was deeply remorseful for his actions.

He described the assault as a “complete one-off” caused by loss of self-control due to alcohol.

He said: “He would do anything to take back what he did that night. He can’t do that so he is trying to make good what he did. It is actually refreshing to see someone be so honest and frank in interview and not try to make excuses. This was not self-defence, he could have walked away. He feels very ashamed.”

The case was adjourned until Tuesday, July 26, for probation reports. Sowerby received unconditional bail.