A TEENAGER broke the jaw of a former friend he saw exiting a cinema with his ex-girlfriend, a court heard.

Matthew Venables-Hughes, of Ffordd Y Glo in Leeswood, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The 18-year-old had previously admitted one offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Prosecutor Justin Espie told the court that on February 22 this year the victim, Evan Medcalf, attended Eagles Meadow in Wrexham with a female.

As they left the cinema at the location and were standing on the balcony, they heard shouting and turned to see Venables-Hughes.

He approached, exclaiming: "What are you doing together?"

Venables-Hughes was "abusive" and followed the victim as he and the female walked away.

After pushing Mr Medcalf from behind, the defendant punched him to the left side of his jaw.

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Mr Espie confirmed the prosecution case rested on that single punch - which resulted in a hairline fracture to the right side of the victim's jaw, and a break to the left side also.

Elzbeth Kenny, defending, commended the recommendation of the probation service - which included help to address his mental health difficulties and thinking skills.

"Due to constraints on the NHS," she said, "It's not easy for an 18-year-old young man struggling with anxiety and depression to have any counselling and psychiatric intervention.

"Since leaving school, he has had a strong work ethic but has lost his job working for an internationally renowned fast food company."

Ms Kenny said the victim had once been a good friend of her client's, and the female had been his ex-girlfriend.

"I can tell you it's no excuse whatsoever," she explained, "but the victim sent him a picture of the shoes he'd bought for [his ex].

"[The defendant] kept asking people if they were seeing each other and he wanted to see with his own eyes.

"He had no intention of harming this gentleman and has never stepped into a police station until this offence.

"He accepts full responsibility and tells me he was mortified."

The court handed down an 18 month community order with 35 sessions on an accredited programme, 50 hours of unpaid work and a mental health treatment requirement.

Venables-Hughes must pay £200 compensation to his victim, as well as £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.