A teenager has been ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to a victim who suffered a double-fractured jaw in a drunken street attack.
Connor Smith (19) admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm, by delivering one punch that floored the victim, during a verbal exchange in the city centre.
Leicester Crown Court was told the incident happened at 4am on July 5 this year.
Smith, of Evelyn Road, Braunstone, Leicester, and the complainant were out in separate groups visiting bars and a night club.
Both groups ended up at McDonald's restaurant in Eastgates, said Jonathan Cox, prosecuting.
"There was a verbal exchange that didn't come to much and the complainant's group decided to head to Lee Circle to get a taxi home," he said.
"As they did so, the complainant went to shake the defendant's hand to ensure there was no difficulty between their groups, but the defendant refused, saying he thought the complainant was going to hit him.
"The complainant said he didn't want any problems and walked off towards the taxi rank.
However, the defendant then shouted: "Do you want a fight?"
"He walked up behind the complainant and punched him directly to the left side of his face, knocking him to the floor," said Mr Cox.
"His friends went to help him but he was unable to speak properly and was bleeding.
"He suffered a double-fractured jaw, with the left side displaced, requiring surgery to realign the jaw with two plates and 12 metal screws.
"The fracture to the right side needed barring and wiring.
"It left him in obvious discomfort and pain and his diet was restricted because of the surgery.
"He's lost the feeling to his lower lip and is now scared to go out, particularly on his own, for fear of it happening again.
"He had to have two weeks off work."
Sentencing Smith, Judge Robert Brown told him: "It was an ugly incident.
"There was some kind of history between your group and his group, but it doesn't justify what you did.
"It was one punch and you didn't follow it up.
"I'm satisfied what happened wasn't pre-planned, but was spontaneous.
"When challenged by the police you made full admissions and I'm told you have genuine and sincere remorse.
"Your references are impressive and you have no previous convictions."
As well as being ordered to pay compensation, Smith was given a 12-month detention sentence, suspended for 18 months, with supervision, and 150 hours of unpaid work.
Richard Holloway, mitigating, said: "He's an unassuming young man and an unlikely candidate for this type of behaviour.
"If alcohol hadn't been involved, he wouldn't be here.
"He was devastated when told about the injury.
"He's apologised by e-mail."
Mr Holloway said the victim's group included another male, who was the former partner of Smith's girlfriend, and there was some bad feeling between the two - which had nothing to do with the young man who was punched.
He said the other man had been staring at the defendant, which caused some tension between the two groups.
Mr Holloway added: "It's the most serious mistake in his life to date and he'll never come to a court again, whatever happens to him today."
The judge told Smith he will also have to attend a COVAID course run by the probation service, to assist 'control of violence for angry and impulsive drinkers'.
