A TEENAGER angrily smashed a student in the face – breaking his cheekbone – in a "drunken, loutish" attack.
He was wearing "ridiculous Harry Potter glasses" and took offence when the victim allegedly started taunting him and calling him names, a court heard.
Max Stockley, 19, of Austin Garth, Laceby, near Grimsby, admitted wounding Daniel Blow on June 16.
Laurinda Bower, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that student Mr Blow, now 19, was walking home at about 1.30am after a night out.
Stockley approached his group in Victoria Street, Grimsby, and suddenly, without warning and any provocation, punched Mr Blow in the face with such force that he fell to the ground. His vision was blurred and it was later discovered that he had a fractured cheekbone.
His friends chased after Stockley but could not catch him.
Mr Blow later needed an operation in Hull Royal Infirmary to fix a metal plate and screws in his cheekbone. He needed a plastic sheath under his eye and had been left with scars around his eye.
Mr Blow later said in a statement that he was "gutted" that he was unable to finish his college course because of his injuries, was unable to play sport and his plans to join a local team had been "ruined".
"I did nothing to provoke this lad attacking me," said Mr Blow. "I feel very depressed, angry and upset as I can't do anything about it."
Simon Hirst, mitigating, said Stockley had shown remorse and was tackling his drinking. He had no previous convictions but had a caution in September 2011 for threatening behaviour.
Stockley had been wearing "ridiculous Harry Potter glasses" and Mr Blow was allegedly being abusive and calling him names, said Mr Hirst.
He lost his temper and punched Mr Blow once.
It was an "appalling" incident but Stockley never meant to cause the serious injuries, said Mr Hirst.
Recorder Jeremy Hill-Baker told Stockley: "This is a piece of drunken, loutish behaviour.
"What you did was to strike a hard blow to the face of another person. It broke his cheekbone and knocked him to the ground. It could have killed him if he had banged his head on the kerb."
Stockley was given a one-year suspended prison sentence, 150 hours' unpaid work, a three-month 8pm to 6am curfew on Fridays and Saturdays, and was ordered to pay £900 compensation.
