A man was left spitting his teeth out in a Weston-super-Mare street after a single punch shattered his jaw – all because his attacker believed he was littering.

Joshua Scrivens, of Hapsburg Close, appeared at North Somerset Courthouse on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent.

The court was told 26-year-old Scrivens believed his victim, Stephen Amesbury, had dropped litter from a takeaway burger he was eating in the centre of Weston, at around 1.30am on March 13.

Scrivens alerted nearby police officers but they could not do anything as they had not witnessed the litter-dropping.

But, shortly after, Scrivens saw Mr Amesbury standing on the corner of Oxford Street and he punched him once in the jaw.

Prosecuting, Andrea Edwards, said: “The victim at this point can recall someone approaching him to his right.

“The last thing the victim can recall is dropping his food on the floor and being on the pavement, spitting out his teeth.”

The court was told Scrivens – who continued on to a bar in Regent Street after the attack – simply did not think about the consequences of his actions.

Ms Edwards said: “He couldn’t remember why he had hit him, or how he hit him, but he said his body just took over.”

Mr Amesbury suffered an open fracture to the right side of his jaw and he had to have dental surgery at Bristol Royal Infirmary.

The operation involved removing five teeth – one as a result of the impact and four for other medical reasons – and placing 16 screws into his jaw.

Mr Amesbury is still awaiting a final operation, but his jaw is not yet strong enough for it to take place.

Ms Edwards said: “The victim is still in a lot of pain and speaks with a slur now. He has a permanent swollen jaw.”

Scrivens will be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on October 4.