Twenty-year-old Gavin Tait of Bright Street, Hawick, appeared on indictment and admitted punching a man to his severe injury at the town's Exchange Bar, Silver Street, on December 26.

Prosecutor Mark Keane said the victim had been in a pub with friends and was aware of the accused and others sitting at a table nearby.
"The accused was causing a nuisance, shouting, and dancing on chairs, and the person running a disco refused to continue until he was removed," explained Mr Keane.

He said Tait threw a punch striking a man nearby on the jaw.
"He didn't retaliate, but cupped his jaw in pain," explained Mr Keane.
He said the victim told his friends that Tait had punched him for no reason and the following morning, suffering increasing pain, he went to the cottage hospital and then to Borders General Hospital where an x-ray revealed two fractures to his jaw.

The man also required an operation and had to attend at St John's Hospital in Livingston.
Defence agent Rory Bannerman said Tait and his family had been out celebrating the birth of a child.

"It was also Christmastime, which led to additional merriment and drink," explained Mr Bannerman.
"He was dancing and singing, and having a good time, but that seems to have riled the person running the disco and he was moved into the public bar area.

"Because of the amount of drink taken, he was boisterous, but he sat down with his family in this other part of the pub."

Mr Bannerman said the accused's sister believed she had been called a rude name by one of two men nearby and Tait "entirely wrongly decided to remonstrate.

"He stood up, exchanged a few words, and punched the man," said Mr Bannerman.

The assault by Tait, who was on bail at the time, was captured on CCTV.
Tait had sentence deferred until July 16 for reports.