THE victim of a nightclub assault arising from a spilled drink was later found to have a broken jaw.

But Blackburn magistrates heard the prosecution could not link the injury with the single punch thrown by Aaron Coker in Never Never Land.

Coker, 20, of Havelock Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to assaulting Gary Wilcox. He was fined £100 and ordered to pay £50 compensation and £35 costs.

Peter Wild, prosecuting, said the incident in the club happened around midnight. Mr Wilcox was on the balcony when Coker approached him and punched him once, the court heard.

Mr Wild added: "It seems there was a further altercation on the stairs later on but there is a long gap after that before the aggrieved was found on the street with this serious injury."

Clare Knight, defending, said the dispute had been over a drink knocked over by Mr Wilcox, which he agreed to replace. When Coker later asked about the drink it escalated into a row and he accepted punching Mr Wilcox once to the side of the face.

"As he said when interviewed by the police Mr Wilcox was still standing and there were no apparent injuries," said Mrs Knight. "That was confirmed by another witness."