A Dundee man has admitted fracturing the jaw of his partner’s family friend with a single punch after he saw them embracing.
Kenneth Smith, 22, of Colonsay Terrace, admitted assaulting Dean Johnston and punching him on the face to his severe injury on March 4 last year at Ormiston Crescent.
The court heard Mr Johnston is a family friend of Smith’s partner referred to as Miss Lewis throughout Monday’s proceedings.
While Mr Johnston was aware of the accused being Miss Lewis’s partner, he said they had never spoken.
Depute fiscal Susan Ruta said: “During March 3 2013, Mr Johnston along with several of his associates attended the Dundee v Dundee United game.
“After the match they made their way into Dundee city centre to continue drinking. Mr Johnston said he was drunk at that time.”
On the same day Smith and Miss Lewis were at a family christening. He went home to look after their children while Miss Lewis went out with friends.
They ended up at Deja Vu nightclub and Mr Johnston also went there.
Ms Ruta said: “Both witnesses Johnston and Lewis stated this is where they met up for the first time that day.”
Around 2.30am they left Deja Vu for the casino before calling it a night.
They shared a taxi to Ormiston Crescent where they stood talking for around 10 minutes.
Ms Ruta said: “They kissed and embraced. Immediately Mr Johnston heard the accused shouting ‘What the f*** is going on?’ and made his way over.
“The accused brushed past Miss Lewis and punched Mr Johnston to the side of his face. This caused him to stagger back from the shock and he realised he was bleeding heavily.”
The court heard when he went home he realised the seriousness of his injury and went to Ninewells Hospital where he was x-rayed and admitted overnight.
The next day it was discovered he had a fracture on the right lower jaw which required surgery and two metal plates to be fixed.
His left lower jaw has also sustained a hairline fracture. Smith was traced at work by police officers after Mr Johnston reported the incident.
His solicitor, Theo Findlay, told the court: “He was neither angry nor suspicious about his partner staying out but he was increasingly concerned.
“He went to the window and saw them in an embrace.”
Sheriff George Way deferred sentence to March 3 for reports and a restriction of liberty order assessment. He admitted Smith to bail.