A man punched a teenager leaving him with a fractured jaw after friendly banter turned to violence, a court heard.

Joseph Bruckland, 20, hit George Heron, 18, in Copthorne Village after a fight broke out between their two separate groups of friends.

Hove Crown Court heard Mr Heron, a rugby player, was left needing surgery to insert permanent metal plates in his jaw after the assault on May 24, 2009.

Prosecuting Annie Toynbee said Mr Heron was cooking a barbeue with friends on the village recreation ground when they were approached by a group of boys pushing bikes wearing cycling shorts and Speedos.

Mrs Toynbee said banter between the two groups over the boys’ clothes turned into a fight, which Mr Heron did not take part in.

After the fight subsided and the groups dispersed, about five men returned with Joseph Bruckland, of Reigate Road, Hookwood, who then punched Mr Heron.

Addressing the jury yesterday, Mr Heron said he had attempted to reassure Mr Bruckland he had no involvement in the previous fight, but Mr Bruckland still hit him.

Mr Heron said: “I wasn’t interested in it [the original fight]. I don’t like violence to be honest with you.

“After five minutes the group I was with that was involved in the fight left and I was left with the girls by the barbeque.

“After another five to six minutes there was a group of five lads come through the gate and started heading towards me and the barbeque area.

“I got up and said I wasn’t involved in the earlier incident as I knew what they were coming back for.

“I was pleading my innocence. There were a few punches thrown. I ducked down to miss one punch and as I came back up I received a blow to the right side of my face.

“As I was getting up I saw that person there [Mr Bruckland].”

Mr Bruckland, who is charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, admits throwing a punch, but argues it was in self defence.

The case continues.