A 21-YEAR-OLD who injured another man in an unprovoked headbutt outside an Irvinestown pub has been ordered to pay £500 compensation to his victim.

Aaron Elliott, of Flax Valley, Irvinestown, pleaded guilty to assault, occasioning actual bodily harm, on March 19, 2017.

Fermanagh Magistrates Court heard that the injured party attended Enniskillen police station and told officers that he had been headbutted outside the Necarne Arms in Irvinestown at 2.30am.

He informed the police that the man who assaulted him was the defendant, whom he described as a friend of his girlfriend.

The injured party claimed that he had not spoken to Elliott that night and the incident was unprovoked.

The victim had sustained two broken front teeth as a result of the headbutt and required dental treatment, the court heard.

Police subsequently attended the defendant’s home address.

He initially gave a no comment interview.

CCTV footage of the incident was shown to him during a further interview.

Once again, he made no comment.

Defending solicitor, Barry Lynam, told the court that his client had entered a guilty plea at the first opportunity and accepted his culpability.

He also handed in a reference from the defendant’s manager.

Outlining the background to the assault, the solicitor said that Elliot had instructed him that the injured party had been involved in an altercation with a female.

Mr. Lynam said that the defendant had then attempted to split up the altercation.

He said that Elliott was intoxicated at the time, before adding that this was “no excuse”.

The solicitor also told the court that his client regretted the matter.

District judge, Nigel Broderick, observed that it had been a “nasty, unprovoked” assault that had resulted in serious injury.

Giving credit for the defendant’s early guilty plea and clear record, the judge imposed a 120-hour Community Service Order and also ordered him to pay £500 compensation.