A YOUNG man who attacked his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend in a nightclub has been given two years' youth detention.

David Scott's victim had his jaw fractured in two places and suffered bruising to his face and a cut below his lip.

Durham Crown Court heard that he needed surgery under general anaesthetic and had to have plates inserted.

Scott, 19, of Tees Crescent, Stanley, admitted assault causing grievous bodily harm at a previous hearing.

Mark Giuliani told the court that the incident happened last October when Scott saw his former girlfriend and her new boyfriend in Stanley Club.

Without provocation, he attacked the man, punching him in the head, the force slamming his head into the bar at least twice.

The man shouted for Scott to stop, but he continued and the attack ended when Scott was pulled away by bar staff.

In police interview he claimed he was acting in self-defence after being attacked by his victim.

Andrew Walker, mitigating, said Scott expressed remorse and regret, but denied telling police he had been attacked.

He said the offence arose out of drunkenness and jealousy, and there was no suggestion that the victim had provoked it.

Scott thought the woman was flirting with the man, which led to an "inappropriate and violent reaction".

Mr Walker said Scott told officers he did not think he had punched the man particularly hard and was "sick'' at what had happened.

He described Scott, who was given a three-year sentence in 1999 for indecent assault, as generally "mild mannered".

He had sent messages to his former girlfriend asking how the man was.

"He is someone who genuinely expressed regret and remorse about what happened," he said.

Mr Walker said Scott, who had not been in a fight since his school days, was intelligent and articulate and could make something of his life.

Judge Denis Orde described the attack as "a very savage assault borne out of jealousy" and said that the victim had posed no threat or danger.