A TEENAGER fractured an acquaintance's jaw in an attack at a gathering of friends.

Jack Michael Laurence Foster pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

The teenager and his victim, who knew each other through friends, had been drinking heavily with several others on the day of the attack on June 26, prosecutor Melanie Winterflood said.

Foster had become angry and had gone to find the victim, knocking him over with a punch to the neck and tripping him up when he attempted to get to his feet.

The victim suffered a fractured jaw and injuries to his arm.

Foster, who was arrested the next day, admitted the attack, telling police he knew he should not have done it.

Marilena Di Vitantonio, for Foster, said the 18-year-old accepted that he had punched the victim.

"He tells me he did not fall to the floor but instead turned to walk off and so he tripped him," Miss Di Vitantonio said.

"That is how he ended up on the floor."

The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be carried out. Foster will appear for sentencing on June 2.