A TEENAGER punched his pal in the face, breaking his jaw, after a night out in Manchester, a court has heard.

Theo Samuels, who was dating victim Lewis Jeffrey’s ex-girlfriend, is said to have launched the attack outside a friend’s house in Halliwell in the early hours of December 10 last year.

The single blow left 20-year-old Mr Jeffrey needing surgery and a metal plate inserting in his jaw.

But Samuels, who is on trial at Bolton Crown Court after denying committing grievous bodily harm, claims Mr Jeffrey alleged he was assaulted by a ‘crackhead’ in Bolton town centre instead.

A jury has heard how, that night Mr Jeffrey, Samuels and their friend, George Isherwood, had been to drum and bass DJ Darkzy’s concert at the O2 Ritz in Manchester.

Queuing up, Mr Jeffrey realised he didn’t have identification to get in and so left to get a taxi back to Bolton.

After the concert Samuels and Mr Isherwood returned to their friend, Jack Prince's flat in Ralph Street, Halliwell, at 4.30am.

Half an hour later they were joined by Mr Jeffrey where, after a drink, Samuels is said to have ordered him outside.

"Lewis Jeffrey put on his coat and stepped out to find Samuels waiting for him with clenched fists," said Andrew Evans, prosecuting.

Mr Jeffrey was said to have tried to walk past him but Samuels told him "no you're not" and punched him.

Mr Jeffrey told police that he did not know why he had been hit.

"His ex, Jodie Davies, had been going out with Theo Samuels, but he didn't realise that there was any issue between them," said Mr Evans.

Giving evidence in own his defence, Samuels gave a different version of events, claiming that that his former schoolfriend was already injured when he turned up at the flat.

Samuels, who works as a panel beater, said Mr Jeffrey was questioned by others at the flat about his swollen face.

"He replied that he had been jumped in town," said Samuels, adding that Mr Jeffrey claimed a "crackhead" had attacked him when he did not have a cigarette to give him.

The court heard that, in an exchange of Facebook messages afterwards, Mr Jeffrey told Samuels about his injures and that he had reported him as the attacker to the police.

Samuels, of Lowndes Street, Bolton, replied: "I'm not worried. Karma got you good."

The trial continues.