A teenage reveller left a man with a broken eye socket after flooring him in a one-punch attack outside a takeaway.
Jack Cayden had been out drinking with friends in Newcastle City Centre when he ended up in a kebab shop in the city's Bigg Market. A court heard that an argument flared between the 19-year-old and the victim and the pair stepped outside to continue their dispute.
However, Cayden lashed out with his fists, punching the man once to the face and knocking him to the ground. He was taken to hospital where it was discovered he needed surgery for two fractures to his eye socket, prosecutors said.
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Cayden, of Elm Court, in Whickham, Gateshead, has now been ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work as part of an 18-month community order after he appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court to plead guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent. He must also pay £700 compensation, £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.
Prosecutor, Paul Clark, said Cayden had been out drinking with friends in Newcastle on November 12 last year when they ended up in a takeaway and began arguing with the victim and his group of pals, who were unknown to them. Cayden and the victim then decided to go outside, where Cayden lashed out.
Mr Clark continued: "It's a single punch. He's thrown it before the victim came outside. While serious injuries were sustained, they were not grave injuries."
The court heard that Cayden had no past convictions, had pleaded guilty, suffered from mental health issues and was genuinely remorseful. Andy O'Hanlon, defending, said Cayden had been left "horrified" by the level of injury he'd caused the victim.
Mr O'Hanlon told magistrates: "There's some unpleasant words exchanged between him and the other lad in the takeaway and they take it outside on to the pavement, rather than fight inside the shop. It's not cowardly. He gets the first punch in. It turns out it's the only punch."
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